MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS. 223 



They had among them a great many knives, which 

 we feared would influence the magnet, Mr. Pullen 

 therefore kindly drew the crowd off to a distance, 

 distributing among them tobacco, beads, snufF, &c. : 

 and much to their credit be it said, there was neither 

 confusion nor contention, each taking his allotted 

 portion, and seeming delighted with his good fortune. 

 They took care not to come near the instruments, 

 finding that we did not like their approach ; one or 

 two indeed came towards us, but retired instantly 

 when laughingly motioned back, and this should be 

 considered as a display of great forbearance, inasmuch 

 as their curiosity must have been highly excited. 

 When the observations were concluded they were 

 allowed to inspect the objects of their wonder ; then 

 fast and thickly to utterance flew their expressions of 

 astonishment at the — to them — novel and splendid 

 instruments. The trough of quicksilver, liquid and 

 restless, especially attracted them, pleasure and wonder 

 were evident at the simple view, but when one or two 

 had permission to take some from the dish, and found 

 it ever elude the grasp, their astonishment knew no 

 bounds. 



The men generally were taller than the average of 

 Europeans, strongly built and well formed : some had 

 well-marked features, but all expression was completely 



