236 CRUSOE»S ISLAND. 



common in the French colony of Cayenne, where it is 

 known as the " ton -you -you," and in Paraguay, far to 

 the south, it is called "ai-ai-ai," both names being 

 derived from its cries. 



For both birds and information, I searched long 

 and hunted hard, while the weather was good ; but 

 after the days of rain came on and prevented me from 

 unrestricted roving in the woods, I sat contentedly 

 before the fire of fragrant cedar wood in my Hill- 

 top house, and, while the wind howled and the rain 

 fell in torrents, pored over my books and manu- 

 scripts. 



During the rainy days Thomas Ned sat modestly 

 apart, at the end of the house to which the kitchen 

 was attached, and wove baskets and nets, skinned 

 birds, and made opossum traps. He rarely spoke un- 

 less I addressed him ; but he was always alert for in- 

 formation, and one evening begged me to read him 

 something from my books. So it came to pass that I 

 frequently read to him, chiefly from the voyages of 

 Columbus and other navigators of these seas. 



He was particularly interested in the account by 

 Columbus of the Indian pearl fisheries of Margarita, 

 not far away to the southwest of us. It was in the 

 year 1499 that the first pearls were taken by white 

 men, from the Indians of Margarita and Cubagua, 

 who were found wearing strings and ropes of these 

 precious sea products. 



For more than two hundred years the Spaniards 

 worked these pearl fisheries, and in one year, that of 

 1587, sent home to Spain more than one hundred and 



