228 BAETERING FOB YAMS. 



July 4^A.— The first cutter was sent to Brierly 

 Island to-day, for the double purpose of endeavour- 

 ing" to procure yams from the natives for the use of 

 the ship's company, and enabling' me to make addi- 

 tions to my vocabulary and collection. Mr. Brady 

 took charge of the bartering', and drawing a number 

 of lines upon the sandy beach, explained that when 

 each was covered with a yam he would give an axe 

 in return. At first some little difiiculty occurred 

 as the yams were brought down very slowly — ^two 

 or three at a time, — but at length the first batch 

 was completed and the axe handed over. The man 

 who got it-^the sword-bearer of yesterday — ^had been 

 trembling with anxiety for some time back, holding 

 Mr. Brady by the arm and watching the promised 

 axe with eager eye. When he obtained possession of 

 it he became quite wild with joy, laughing and 

 screaming, and flourishing the axe over his head. 

 After this commencement the bartering went on 

 briskly amidst a great deal of uproar, the men pas- 

 sing between the village and the beach at full speed, 

 with basketfals of yams, and too intent upon getting 

 the kiram kelumai (iron-axes), to think of anything 

 else. Meanwhile Mr. Huxley and myself walked 

 about unheeded by almost any one. The women 

 kept themselves in the bush at a little distance, 

 making a great noise, but avoided shewing them- 

 selves. Occasionally we caught a glimpse of these 

 sable damsels, but only one female came near us, — 

 a meagre old woman who darted past with an axe 



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