of the Old World. 55 



were oftener slung over his shoulders than worn 

 on his feet. His long coarse black hair was twisted 

 round his head, being partially covered with a skull 

 cap of some strange looking material, of which the 

 kind and quality were perfectly undistinguishable 

 from grease and dirt. 



Round his waist was a broad leather belt, hung 

 round with numerous pouches, containing ammu- 

 nition, a small axe made by the celebrated Arnat- 

 chellum of Salem, a huge shekar knife, and a 

 chuckmuck, or leather bag, with flint, steel, 

 and tinder. To complete his appearance, a 

 telescope and brandy flask hung from each 

 shoulder, and in his hand he carried my favourite 

 double two-ounce rifle, a masterpiece, by Westley 

 Richards. From his cocky mien and jaunty 

 swagger, our friend evidently thought no " small 

 beer" of himself, and he was, I must own, an 

 invaluable personage in his way, being a first-rate 

 tracker, cool and steady in the time of danger, a 

 wonderful supporter of fatigue, and the most per- 

 severing follower after large game, besides being 

 entirely devoted to me. His only fault was his 

 love of rackee, (spirit made from the sap of the 

 Palmyra palm, date or cocoa-nut tree.) 



The rest of the gang, who were almost naked, with 

 the exception of the waistcloths, leather skull-caps, 

 and their sandals, carried my other guns and light 



