THE GOOSING 219 



filled with wonder that I should choose to lie under a 

 boat. As a matter of fact it was far better than their 

 wretched 'yierserk,' which let in all the rain. 



At about four o'clock we set off for the oroosino- and 

 had much fun by the way, for what with my prismatic 

 compass and route-surveying, my flower-picking and 

 questions about birds, I was a mystery and the subject of 

 constant wonder and amusement. 



The new-comers were rather shy about my camera, 

 dodging behind each other in dread of snap-shots. But 

 all 02ir old friends jeered at them, for they had long since 

 got over their mistrust. To them it was no spell from 

 Num, nor an application of the evil eye, but some silly 

 thing which amused me and did not hurt them. I had 

 told them they were sun-pictures ; so whenever they saw 

 the camera in my hand they would look from me to the 

 sun and from him to me, expecting I don't know what. 

 I was always so sorry I could not show them a picture ; 

 but we had no developer and no dark room, so I gave 

 them sketches instead. 



In this way we reached the coast. I should like to 

 try and give you a clear idea of the goosing or goose- 

 taking, because I do not know that it has ever been told 

 before. 



The scene : A low-lying stretch of land, half peat, half 

 grass and marsh [running north ten miles to the Pesanka 

 hills, and south five miles to Barokoska Nos], and an 

 island on the tidal flats some four acres in extent. 



