NATIVE RAFT. 173 



Stout poles from 14 to 16 feet high formed the 

 frame work of these snug huts — for so indeed they 

 deserve to be termed — tliese were brougjht together 

 conically at the roof; a stout thatching of dried 

 grass completely excluded both wind and rain, and 

 seemed to bespeak the existence of a climate at 

 times much more severe than a latitude of 16" 6' 

 south, would lead one to anticipate. The remains 

 of small fires, a well greased bark pillow, a head 

 ornament of sea bird's feathers, together with 

 several other trifling articles, strewn upon the floors 

 of these wigwams, proved that they had been very 

 recently inhabited. But perhaps the most interesting 

 discovery in this bay, was a native raft, which we 

 found near the beach, in such a position as must 

 have required the exertions of several men to have 

 placed it there; being heavier than either of our 

 boats. 



In the construction of this raft, almost everything 

 had been left to nature. It was framed of the 

 dead trunk of a mangrove tree, with three distinct 

 stems growing from one root, about 18 feet long, 

 and 4J broad. The roots at one end closely 

 entwined, as is the habit of the tree, formed a suffi- 

 cient bulwark at the stem, while an elbow in the 

 centre of the trunk, served the same purpose at the 

 stern : a platform of small poles, well covered with 

 dried grass, gave a sufficient flooring to this rude 

 specimen of a raft. I could not survey it without 

 allowing my thoughts to carry me away in pleasing 



