146 GREAT XICOBAR— WEST COAST 



glimpses of their brilliant plumage as they flew from tree to 

 tree. In the clear waters of a little stream that flowed behind 

 the village, we could see shoals of fish slowly drifting about, or 

 poising themselves in the shade of the overhanging branches. 

 The mouth of this stream is closed by the coral-reef, but a 

 few small canoes are kept on its surface to carry the natives 

 to the other bank. We were too lazy even to explore its course, 

 but loafed drowsily beneath the coco palms, while 



" All round the coast the languid air did swoon, 

 Breathing like one that hath a weary dream," 



until, stirred by prosaic thoughts of breakfast, we returned to 

 the schooner. Hardly had we done so when we caught sight 

 of a string of people walking along the beach, whereupon, 

 gathering together the necessary paraphernalia for an interview, 

 we jumped into a boat and were soon on shore again. 



" The party consisted of five men, three women, and three 

 girls — there were no boys or babies in it. They had brought 

 with them several rolls of new bark cloth — pieces about 4 feet 

 by 6 feet — which, when fresh, is much lighter in colour than the 

 old piece we got before ; some rattan baskets of various shapes, 

 ear-distenders, and a bundle of spears made of the hard wood 

 of the nibong palm. These spears are about 8 feet long, and 

 half an inch in diameter, tapering towards the butt. The 

 makers have grasped the principle of the sail and surgeon's 

 needle, for the points are triangular, with sharp edges ; immedi- 

 ately below them, slight barbs, generally six in number, are 

 carved on the shaft.* 



"In physique, the men were less robust than the coast people, 

 but at the same time were tough and wiry-looking — the lesser 

 chest and arm development being probably accounted for by 

 the absence of paddling exercise, for they own no canoes. 



" In person they were somewhat dirty, more markedly in the 



* An exact counterpart to this weapon has been observed among the 

 "Alfurus" of Kau, Gilolo ; vide plate in Kukenthal's Im Malayischen 

 Archipel. 



