WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White 87 



the flesh, and I always return the carcass to them, although 

 purchased to encourage them to bring more." Although these 

 natives wear ornaments they will not take beads unless they 

 are red or white, these seemingly are the favourite colours. 

 The weather was very unsettled at this time, rain fell every day 

 in long and drenching showers, and the scrub showered down 

 water on the party at every step all day long, keeping them in 

 a constant bath. Fresh water was running everywhere and 

 tumbling into the Watelai Channel on both sides. In some 

 places at low tide fresh and good water was running into the 

 channel several feet deep, and 150 yards below where the salt 

 water had been in the morning. On the 4th some large 

 parties of natives were off to the ship before sunrise, for they 

 found that the "Ragah" was off collecting early in the day. 

 Many things were traded for, and amongst others a large 

 iguana, a rat, arrows, shells. Some praus came down the 

 channel later on, on their way to Dobbo, and of course the 

 crews might satisfy their curiosity by boarding the yacht. 

 Writing upon this incident my father says: — "Some of these 

 men who visited us to-day in their large praus had pearls for 

 sale, some had plumes. I could not see anything in their boats 

 they were taking to Dobbo for sale, and they did not appear 

 to be traders as they could not speak a word of Malay, and 

 had a good deal of the Papuan appearance about them. Seve- 

 ral wanted to purchase tobacco with silver coins, and all 

 appeared much surprised when I refused money. Some of 

 my crew were on shore this afternoon, and when they returned 

 they said they had seen a full plumaged bird of paradise not far 

 from us. I can scarcely credit it." The weather was gloomy 

 all day, and little rain fell. 



