228 BARTERING FOR YAMS. 



Jnhj 4fA.— The first cutter was sent to Brierly 

 Island to-day^ for the double purpose of endeavour- 

 ing- to procure yams from the natives for the use of 

 the ship's company^ and enabling me to make addi- 

 tions to my vocabulary and collection. Mr. Brady 

 took charg'e of the bartering*^ and drawing* a number 

 of lines upon the sandy beach^ explained that when 

 each was covered with a yam he would give an axe 

 in return. At first some little difficulty occurred 

 as the yams were brought down very slowly — two 

 or three at a time^ — but at length the first batch 

 was completed and the axe handed over. The man 

 who got it — the sword-bearer of yesterday — had been 

 trembling with anxiety for some time back^ holding' 

 Mr. Brady by the arm and watching- the promised 

 axe with eager eye. When he obtained possession of 

 it he became quite wild with joy^ laughing and 

 screaming^ and flourishing the axe over his head. 

 After this commencement the bartering' went on 

 briskl}^ amidst a great deal of uproar^ the men pas- 

 sing- between the village and the beach at full speedy 

 with basketfuls of j^ams^ and too intent upon getting 

 the liiram kehmai (iron-axes)^ to think of anything 

 else. Meanwhile Mr. Huxley and m3'self walked 

 about unheeded by almost any one. The women 

 kept themselves in the bush at a little distance^ 

 making- a great noise^ but avoided shewing- them- 

 selves. Occasionally we caught a glimpse of these 

 sable damsels^ but only one female came near us_, — 

 a meagre old woman who darted past with an axe 



