112 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Ch. VH. 



The following morning a number of natives visited the 

 ship ia their boats, and, on bottles being shown to them, 

 they eagerly demanded them. When thrown into the water, 

 half-a-dozen men leaped after them, and vigorous swimming- 

 matches took place for the prizes. They would also dive 

 for buttons of any kind that were thrown in. Soon after- 

 wards several boats, full of people of all ages and both sexes, 

 came alongside and readily ventured on board. Indeed, 

 one great distinction between these people and the Chinese 

 was the entire absence' of timidity on the part of the females, 

 who, instead of running away and hiding themselves as soon 

 as they are even looked at, showed the most |ferfect confi- 

 dence and freedom from mauvaise honte. They immediately 

 commenced eagerly inquiring for brascos (bottles), and as 

 our supply of these desirable articles was limited (owing to 

 the custom of throwing empty bottles overboard), consider- 

 able jealousy was excited among the unsuccessful compe- 

 titors. There was no idea of barter, and perhaps it was our 

 own fault that we obtained nothing in return for our valuable 

 presents. A number of our visitors were induced to descend 

 to the captain's cabin, where, as lunch was going on, they 

 readily partook of the edibles, and made themselves quite 

 at home. Captain Bullock good-naturedly cut off the tassels 

 from his cushions, which were immediately transferred to 

 the hair of the native beauties. After going about the 

 ship, and conducting themselves with the greatest propriety, 

 they returned to the village. A little incident struck me as 

 worth recording. One of the men passing the ward-room 

 sky-light, where some of the officers were at lunch, looked 

 down, and lingered, when he was pulled away gently by 

 another man who was with him. It was a slight movement, 

 but Chinamen would have remained and stared till their 



