WRITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White. 121 



and secured a few parrots. The natives brought off some 

 birds as well as a fine wallaby, which were all traded for. In 

 my father's notes dated the 9th he writes:— "I did not go on 

 shore to-day, but stayed on board to skin some birds and do 

 some writing, but the natives pestered me so much that I 

 could not get on with my work. Anything the natives have 

 to barter the Malays or Macassar men seem to take in hand 

 for them, and prove far more troublesome than the Aru men. 

 1 was hours to-day bartering for two birds. Some wanted 

 rice, tobacco, calico, rope, and one man wanted the ship's 

 anchors. Cockerell came on board in the afternoon with 

 some birds, so I went on skinning again. Andrews came off 

 in the evening with nothing as usual. I bartered and traded 

 with the natives to-day for a few insects, besides seeds, shells, 

 animals, etc. Kain fell off and on all day, but the even- 

 ing is clear." The night was clear and fine, but at daylight 

 rain began to fall. My father ordered a boat out, and landed 

 with Cockerell. They came off to the yacht in the afternoon 

 drenched to the skin, with a few birds. The latter were 

 almost spoilt owing to being unable to dry them during such 

 damp weather, the atmosphere being so charged with mois- 

 ture. Andrews went on shore during the afternoon, but came 

 off without a single specimen. The natives crowded on 

 board all day. Birds, insects, shells, etc., besides a plume 

 were traded for. It was laughable to see them come on 

 board with all manner of things. One man would have a 

 joint of bamboo filled with worms, centipedes, and such crea- 

 tures; another a basket full of dead shells picked. up from the 

 beach; a boy would have a small basket filled with pieces of 

 basiana leaves, each piece folded and tied up with a piece of 

 split rattan, in each parcel there was a bug, a small beetle, or 

 a spider, a grasshopper, or a cockroach. They brought 

 small birds shot with blunt arrows, strung through the nose 

 with split cane, live birds tied by the legs to a piece of stick 

 by rattan, birds eggs, bows, arrows, spears, and numerous 

 other things. As each man presented his article for trade 

 he would cry "Tombacco" (tobacco) "Mama mama" (beads), or 

 whatever he wished for, but when a plume was offered rupees 

 were askd for, and if by chance they took trade for it, they 

 would take care to receive or demand twenty shillings worth. 

 They seemed to have a set commercial price, and it is like per- 

 sonal estate to them. It still continued raining day and 

 night. On the 11th some notes show that Samuel White 

 served out the week's stores to the cook as usual, then set to 



