The Cycle of Life 



273 



carries her baby with her, and invariably gives it a bath in the cold 

 water. This she applies with her hand or a coconut shell, and fre- 

 quently she ends the process by dipping the small body into the water. 

 Apparently, the children do not enjoy the ordeal any more than 

 European youngsters ; but this early dislike for the water is soon 

 overcome, and they go to the streams to paddle and play, and quickly 

 become excellent swimmers. They learn that certain sluggish fish 



hide beneath large rocks ; and oftentimes 

 a whole troop of naked youngsters may 

 be seen going up stream, carefully feel- 

 ing under the stones, and occasionally 

 shouting with glee, as a slippery trophy 

 is drawn out with the bare hands. They 

 also gather shell fish and shrimps, and 

 their catch often adds variety to the family 

 meal. 



Children are seldom punished or scold- 

 ed. All the family exhibit real affection 

 for the youngsters, and find time to devote 

 to them. A man is never too old or too 

 busy to take up and amuse or caress the 

 babies. Kissing seems to be unknown, 

 but a similar sign of affection is given 

 by placing the lips to the face and draw- 

 ing the breath in suddenly. A mother is 

 often heard singing to her babes, but the 



songs are usually improvised, and generally consist of a single 



sentence repeated over and over. 



1 

 Fig. 1. 

 Child's Cradle and jumper 



