A BEAUTY 249 



rather tall, but of a fine form, and as supple and grace- 

 ful as a swan. She was very light, and the warm 

 blood glowed through the slight brown color of her 

 skin, giving her a clear and remarkably rich complex- 

 ion. Her hair was brown and curly, and clustered 

 about her face in the prettiest possible manner. 



Her eyes were dark, with a mischievous twinkle; 

 her nose was straight; and her mouth, handsome 

 enough for a Venus, had a dimple at each corner 

 when she laughed, which I have no doubt had sadly 

 disturbed the heart of more than one Papuan youth. 

 Altogether, she was a beauty, and I wondered at the 

 circumstance that produced such a face and figure in 

 such a place. 



She took the beads, laughing, and half afraid, and 

 agreed to take me to the village. As we became bet- 

 ter acquainted, I found her very talkative ; and she 

 went on at such a rate, that I could scarcely under- 

 stand her. Everything I said seemed to amuse her, 

 keeping her laughing most of the way to the village. 

 She said her mother had a house, and that they had 

 plenty of good food, and invited me to supper. She 

 offered to carry part of my load, which was not light 

 by any means ; and we walked up the path together, 

 chatting like old friends. 



Her father was dead, and she and her mother lived 

 by cultivating a small garden, in the valley, where 

 they raised bananas and sweet potatoes. 



