344 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



fattened to a cord, and covered with half a co- 

 coa-nut. In this was contained, as I was in- 

 formed, forae property belonging to the deceafed 

 who was buried under the little fhed. I was 

 given to undcrftand that it was forbidden to 

 touch it, and I complied with their wifhes, not 

 choofing to act contrary to the cuftoms of thefe 

 people. 



The fun was near fetting when we got into the 

 canoe to proceed to the town ; our Papua man 

 gave us again frefh proofs of his dexterity ; while we 

 were paddling along he {truck with his harpoon 

 various forts of fifties. It was dark when wc got 

 back. 



Almofl the whole of the 28th was employed in 

 preparing and defcribing the fpecimens collected 

 the day before. 



I had found in this excurfion the pretty lizard 

 called lacerta Ambo'menjis ; I obferved that it 

 changed its colour like the cameleon ; its moft 

 ordinary colour was green ; and it frequently 

 turned to a dark brown. Although this lizard 

 runs fall, it was eafily caught, for it fuffcred it- 

 felf to be approached near enough to fcize it by 

 the extremity of the tail, which is of an extraor- 

 dinary length. 



In the evening I walked to the fea-fide, to 

 examine the marine productions that are there to 

 be met with, and I profecuted thefe refearches 



till 



