308 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



tion of their elder playmates. A very noticeable feature in 

 the merry group, was the absence of all loud, discordant 

 cries, angry exclamations, and evidences of a quarrelsome 

 disposition. I am told that such is very rare ; and it rarely 

 happens that the hand of one is raised in anger against an- 

 other. The same peaceful disposition was wonderfully man- 

 ifest in the ten Kanakas of our crew. In the three months 

 they have been on board, there has certainly not been a 

 quarrel among them ; nor can I recall a harsh word between 

 the poor heathen. But of us white and black Christians 

 the same can not be said. The happy mothers of our little 

 savages were swimming in the deep water of the bay, and 

 diving for shell-fish, each having a long gourd anchored in 

 her vicinity, -into which she might drop such shells as she 

 secured. 



We laid ourselves upon the lava ledges which overhung 

 the beautiful scene, and the swimmers observing us, they 

 with great shouting and splashing attracted our attention. 

 A friendly competition then arose, in the exhibition of their 

 skill as divers. A black-haired, black-eyed mermaid, more 

 beautiful than the syrens of old, I'll be sworn, stood erect in 

 the bright water, and clapping a pair of pretty hands grace- 

 fully over her head, with musical cries strove to secure our 

 special attention. Then, turning and undulating as a wave, 

 her twinkling feet for a moment shot in the air, and the vis- 

 ion disappeared long enough to cause us to hold our breath 

 in sympathy. Arising at length, the pretty head, with long 

 black locks all afloat, was again turned in our direction to 

 see that we recognized her; and with clapping hands we 

 cheered her and the other competitors. To show that their 

 efforts were not in vain, they would exhibit the shells 

 brought up, and, swimming to the gourds, deposit their 

 prizes. 



After our long absence from the land, it is remarkable 



