TOM: HIS WIVES HIS BATTLES 



293 



birthplace. The plea of the rocks was not raised as any 

 just cause or impediment to the match when Tom by force 

 of arms espoused Nelly. " Jimmy," Tom and Nelly's son, 

 born in civilisation, bears a second name, that of a deceased 

 uncle, " Toola-un-guy," the totemic rendering of which is 

 now unknown. Another "Jimmy," a native of Hinchin- 

 brook, is differentiated by " Yaeki-muggie," the title of the 

 sandspit of one of the Brook Islands. 



The confusion of tongues between Tom and Nelly may 

 be briefly illustrated 



The big-eyed walking fish of the mangroves, which the 

 learned have named Periophthalmus koelreuteri, Tom knows 

 as " manning-tsang," and Nelly as " mourn." 



During one of his bachelordom interludes a smart young 

 gin known as " Dolly " attracted Tom's fancy. He had just 

 " signed on " for a six months' cruise with the master of a 

 beche-de-mer schooner. Dolly smiled so sweetly upon 



