PHYSICAL APPEAKANCE OF THE SILLIBABOOS. 503 



When the ship came near and passed through the group of islands just named, the 

 commander watched closely to ohserve if they showed any mark of recognition. Their attention 

 was called to them hy signs, and they seemed to understand the pantomimic inquiry, for they 

 invariably shook their heads as if to imply that their home was not there, and pointing towards 

 the eastward, said " Sil-li-ba-boo." Soon after the ship arrived at Cum-sing-moon, in China, 

 and here great pains were taken to discover, if possible, where these poor adventurers belonged. 

 There were many ships lying there, and the Commodore directed that diligent search should be 

 made among them all, in the hope that, perchance, some one might be found who could 

 communicate with them. They were visited by many from the various vessels, and, from their 

 timidity, they fell at first under the suspicion that they were anxious to remain unknown ; but 

 Captain Boyle became quite convinced that their shyness, and repugnance to leave the ship, 

 proceeded from fear alone. They were taken on board each of the trading ships at Cum-sing- 

 moon, and out of the numerous tongues spoken on board not one was foiiud like that spoken by 

 these men. At length they uttered some words when on the deck of the English ship Bombay, 

 which Captain Jamieson, the commander, thought he recognized as belonging to the language 

 of the natives of the Bentinck Isles. On perceiving that their words were attracting notice, they 

 made their usual salaam, and uttering Sil-U-ba-boo, afterwards held their peace. There is an 

 island called by that name, and mentioned by Horsburg as being in latitude 4° N., longitude 

 127° E., but this is so remote from the spot where they were picked up, some twelve or fifteen 

 hundred miles, that Captain Boyle could not suppose it possible they had drifted such a distance. 

 The wind had, indeed, for several days been strong from the southward and eastward, just 

 before the boat was seen, though at the time they were picked up it was from the northward and 

 westward. Notwithstanding this, however, it seemed most improbable that in their frail craft 

 they could have floated so many miles. Captain Jamieson and his crew interested themselves 

 much for these poor creatures, and persevered in their efi'orts to communicate with them by 

 means of the slight vocabulary they had acc[uired in their voyagings ; and though such 

 communication was very imperfect, of course, yet it was plain some words were understood, and 

 the unfortunate men were evidently pleased, and sought opportunities of mingling with those 

 who could comprehend any portion, however small, of their language. With these imperfect 

 means of knowledge, the best account Captain Jamieson could gather from them was, that they 

 did come from Sil-li-ba-boo, distant as it was ; that they left the land in their boat with some 

 articles of food for a vessel in the offing, met a fresh breeze which carried them out to sea, and, 

 by its continuance, prevented their return to land, and that they had been in the boat fifteen 

 days when the Southampton j^icked them up. By direction of the Commodore, two of the 

 surgeons of the squadron made a minute examination of these Sil-li-ba-boos, and reported in 

 substance as follows : 



" The Sil-li-ba-boos are of medium height and well set, with moderate muscular development, 

 and, though possessed of no great strength, are active in movement. Destitute of the fatty 

 tissue beneath the skin which generally gives roundness and fullness to the forms of northern 

 races, the Sil-li-ba-boos have, from this deficiency, a sharp and angular contour that deprives 

 them of all claim to physical beauty. Their features have the irregular expression of the negro, 

 though their color resembles that of the mulatto. Their heads are small and round, with a 

 large disproportionate development of the posterior part of the skull ; their faces are oval, 



