19 
of nature—and very wisely so—in view of the treacherous 
nature of surf, and of greater facility for paddling, and of 
less likelihood to contract disease. They are seen with a 
loin-cloth, of meagre dimensions, as a body cover, and for 
the head perhaps a broad-brimmed hat, or may be they are 
bareheaded. They take frequently with them their country 
clothes, a loose sheet-like body-covering wrapper, which, 
when worn, is carried toga-like, as illustrated in the views 
before us. These clothes may be seen on the return of 
the canoes wound around the head of their stalwart owners, 
to act as a sun-awning or umbrella. At times they are 
converted, as make-shifts, into temporary sails, although 
canoes are usually supplied with sheets of a like nature, 
or with sails made of fibre or leaf matting. The sail is 
square, or nearly so. There is a single mast—a bamboo 
pole—to the head of which the sail is either hoisted by 
means of a small line run through a hole made through the 
mast-head, or made fast with a seizing. The sail is spread 
by a bamboo “ sprit,” and is worked by means of a sheet 
and a brace on the sprit; usually one man holds these, 
while the other steers with a paddle, but sometimes one 
man performs both duties. There are occasions when the 
luff of the sail is “bowlined out” by means of another 
bamboo. 
Very rarely accidents by drowning occur.- Of fishermen 
it might almost be said that they were amphibious. As 
children they are generally made pursue the calling of 
their fathers: they are to be seen all day long, especially 
in the heat of the day, in the water, either swimming, 
“turning turtle,”-engaged paddling a plank or remnant of 
a canoe, or learning the art of casting the net. In later 
years they frequently accompany their fathers, and learn 
[33] C2 
