A VISIT TO THE HAIGAHS. 133 



to the front unexpectedly, in the person 

 of Domingo, my Ooncani dressing-boy 

 (or valet). He was a shy little fellow, 

 active and intelligent, slim and good- 

 looking, and not in the least like the 

 practised waterman he showed himself. 

 He came forward, examined the canoe, 

 seized the bit of board which was to 

 serve for a paddle, then placing a hand 

 on each side of the stern, he gave the 

 tiny boat a vigorous shoot into the 

 stream, springing from the bank as he 

 did so, and poising his weight on his 

 hands as he curled his legs into the 

 stern; seated there, he shot the canoe 

 across like an arrow, and returning 

 ferried over, in a number of successive 

 trips, everybody and everything belong- 

 ing to us. 



