CHRISTMAS. 63 



entremets of preserved meats, with a plentiful supply 

 of vegetables and pickles, completed the fb^st course, 

 which was followed by enormous puddings of plum, — 

 such as an Englishman's soul loveth, — and tarts of 

 cranberries, and other preserved fruits. An unlimited 

 supply of the sailor's beverage assisted the consumption 

 of the edibles ; and our boys enjoyed a glorious repast, 

 assisted by a select few of their Tuski friends, 

 especially invited on the occasion. The hilarity was 

 great and undisturbed; and good feeling reached such 

 a pitch ere midnight, that the officers were succes- 

 sively carried round the ship with cheers and shouts 

 of rejoicing, which proceeding seemed to astonish oui- 

 native friends amazingly. 



Next night a Christmas pantomime, composed on 

 board, was performed in a manner highly creditable 

 to all concerned in its preparation, and brought 

 down thunders of applause from pit and boxes. 



On the 28th, Captain Moore, with two or three of 

 our number, went down to Woorel to christen the 

 child of Belconta, born on the 20th instant. 

 Rockets were sent up in celebration of the event ; 

 and we were highly diverted to see a native run 

 after one of these, which, misplaced in firing, darted 

 along the ground instead of mounting aloft. For- 

 tunately for him, he did not succeed in catching it. 



