MISSION SCHOOL BOYS 59 



as they love to be called — a title inherited from the times when 

 English skippers used to trade amongst these islands, and 

 bestow by request their own names (and others less com- 

 plimentary, but more pointed) on the natives they particularly 

 favoured in their commercial transactions. 



Nor were these our only acquaintances. "Sweet William" 

 (who had a mouth and teeth like a shark's), W. L. Distant, 

 Tom Noddy, Lady Clara, Sam Weller, and many others, came 

 to see us. There was, too, Mr Corney Grain, who, many 

 people may not be aware, is chief of a village in Sawi Bay, 

 and who dresses in two yards of pink ribbon. 



In this way we were never at a loss for company, for when 

 the above were engaged, there was always a reserve in the 

 persons of Jack Robinson, Tom Tuson, Kingfisher, Young 

 Edwin, James Snooks, Lorenzo, Lady-killer, and others. 



Mr Solomon's efforts in education have received little 

 support from the community ; for by handing over their 

 children to his discipline, the parents lose their assistance 

 in the routine of daily work, no small portion of which falls to 

 the younger generation, since almost all special work is done 

 by small boys. These are very helpful in climbing the coco 

 palms for the nuts required for barter, and they are of much 

 assistance to the foreign traders also, who, to induce the boys 

 to aid them, supply them with food, and give them presents 

 of tobacco and other things. However, some fifteen or twenty 

 boys, from 8 to 14 years of age, have now been given up to 

 the mission school,* to receive a little daily instruction and 

 drill, on condition that the onus of feeding and clothing them 

 shall not fall upon the parents. 



Out of school hours these boys make themselves generally 

 useful by fetching and carrying, preparing food, etc., and acting 

 as crew of the agent's canoe. 



That such a life is not universally pleasing to the youngsters 

 themselves, is witnessed by the fact that a short time ago one 



* This is partly supported by a small monthly subsidy from the 

 Bishopric of Rangoon. 



