CHAP. XXIX.] THE SAVAGES BOARD US. 1 



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their paddles deep in the water and throwing up clouds of 

 spray ; as they approached nearer they stood up in their 

 canoes and increased their noise and gesticulations ; and 

 on coming alongside, without asking leave, and without a 

 moment's hesitation, the greater part of them scrambled up 

 on our deck just as if they were come to take possession of 

 a captured vessel. Then commenced a scene of indescribable 

 confusion. These forty black, naked, mop-headed savages 

 seemed intoxicated with joy and excitement. ISTot one of 

 them could remain still for a moment. Every individual 

 of our crew was in turn surrounded and examined, asked 

 for tobacco or arrack, grinned at and deserted for another. 

 All talked at once, and our captain was regularly mobbed 

 by the chief men, who wanted to be employed to tow us 

 in, and who begged vociferously to be paid in advance. A 

 few presents of tobacco made their eyes glisten; they 

 ^vould express their satisfaction by grins and shouts, by 

 rolling on deck, or by a headlong leap overboard. School- 

 boys on an unexpected holiday. Irishmen at a fair, or mid- 

 shipmen on shore, would give but a faint idea of the 

 exuberant animal enjoyment of these people. 



Under similar circumstances Malays could not behave as 

 these Papuans did. If they came on board a vessel (after 

 asking permission), not a word would be at first spoken, 

 except a few compliments, and only after some time, and 

 very cautiously, would any approach be made to business. 



VOL. II. N 



