CHAP, xxxn.] CULTIVATING A BEARD. 271 



triumph of art, for they each contained about a dozen 

 hairs more than tliree inches long, and whicli, being well 

 greased and twisted, were distinctly visible (when not too 

 far ofi") as a black thread hanging down on each side of 

 his moiith. But the beard to match was the difficulty, for 

 nature had cruelly refused to give him a rudiment of hair 

 on his chin, and the most talented gardener could not do 

 much if he had nothing to cultivate. But true genius 

 triumphs over difficulties. Although there was no hair 

 proper on the chin, there happened to be, rather on one 

 side of it, a small mole or freckle which contained (as 

 such things frequently do) a few stray hairs. These had 

 been made the most of They had reached four or five 

 inches in length, and formed another black thread dangling 

 from the left angle of the chin. The owner carried this 

 as if it were something remarkable (as it certainly was) ; 

 he often felt it affectionately, passed it between his fingers, 

 and was evidently extremely proud of his moustaches and 

 beard ! 



One of the most surprising things connected with Aru 

 was the excessive cheapness of all articles of European or 

 native manufacture. We were here two thousand miles 

 beyond Singapore and Batavia, which are themselves 

 emporiums of the "far east," in a place unvisited by, 

 and almost unknown to, European traders ; everything 

 reached us through at least two or three hands, often 



