310 NATIVES. 



were few in numbers our abrupt appearance would 

 have too much terrified them to leave any chance of 

 an interview ; and we accordingly did not disturb 

 them, but contented ourselves with watching their 

 movements for a while. The spectacle was an in- 

 teresting one. Both men and women were engaged 

 in delving for their food, whilst a little beyond a few 

 more were burning the bush, and looking out for 

 game and snakes. It does not often fall to the lot 

 of the white man to behold the wild people of the 

 earth, engaged in their daily avocations, completely 

 unconscious that the gaze of a superior class of beings 

 is upon them. We have seen savages exhibited to 

 us professedly in all the simplicity of the woods ; 

 but how can the children of nature retain their 

 freedom of action and manners under the curious 

 gaze of a civilized multitude ? We may depend upon 

 it that we gather nothing but erroneous ideas from 

 such a display. If we would understand, truly, what 

 our savage brethren are like, we must penetrate into 

 the woods and the wilds where they are to be found; 

 we must mingle with them in the exercise of their 

 domestic avocations ; we must see them as they are, 

 in all their excusable degradation ; and not invested 

 with a fictitious dignity, or a theatrical simplicity ; 

 we must observe them, also, unawares, and see how 

 they conduct themselves under the ordinary in- 

 fluences that beset them. 



It was with great reluctance that I departed 

 without making our presence known ; but I could 



