1851.] A DESCRIPTION OF JAVlTA. 177 



Lie hid, o'ershadow'd by th' eternal woods, 



And trickle onwards, — these to increase the wave 



Of turbid Orinooko ; those, by a longer course 



In the Black River's isle-strewn bed, flow down 



To mighty Amazon, the river-king, 



And, mingled with his all-engulfing stream, 



Go to do battle with proud Ocean's self, ' 



And drive him back even from his own domain. 



There is an Indian village ; all around, 



The dark, eternal, boundless forest spreads 



Its varied foliage. Stately palm-trees rise 



On every side, and numerous trees unknown 



Save by strange names uncouth to English ears. 



Here I dwelt awhile the one white man 



Among perhaps two hundred living souls. 



They pass a peaceful and contented life, 



These black-hair'd, red-skinn'd, handsome, half-wild men. 



Directed by the sons of Old Castile, 



They keep their village and their houses clean; 



And on the eve before the Sabbath-day 



Assemble all at summons of a bell, 



To sweep within and all around their church, 



In which next morn they meet, all neatly drcss'd, 



To pray as they've been taught unto their God. 



It was a pleasing sight, that Sabbath mom, 



Reminding me of distant, dear-loved home. 



On one side knelt the men, their simple dress 



A shirt and trousers of coarse cotton cloth : 



On the other side were women and young girls, 



Their glossy tresses braided with much taste, 



And on their necks all wore a kerchief gay, 



And some a knot of riband in their hair. 



How like they look'd, save in their dusky skin, 



To a fair group of English village maids ! 



Yet far superior in their graceful forms; 



For their free growth no straps or bands impeJe, 



But simple food, free air, and daily baths 



And exercise, give all that Nature asks 



To mould a beautiful and healthy frame. 



"Each day some labour calls them. Now they go 

 To fell the forest's pride, or in canoe 

 With hook, and spear, and arrow, to catch fish ; 

 Or seek the various products of the wood, 

 To make their baskets or their hanging beds. 

 The women dig the mandiocc^ root, 

 And with much labour make of it their bread. 

 These plant the young shoots in the fertile earth — 

 Earth all untill'd, to which the plough, or spade, 

 Or rake, or harrow, are alike unknown. 



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