OSTRICHES. 139 



occasion left no doubt as to the kindly feeling of our 

 hosts towards us. The entrance of the tray was the 

 signal for conversation to commence ; and, once set free, 

 it flowed abundantly. As we sat drinking our coffee 

 and talking of everything but the business on which 

 we were bent, our thoughts flashed back to Oriental 

 bazaars, where these identical preliminaries are neces- 

 sary to every bargain. The relationship of everybody 

 present to everybody else was accurately explained to 

 us, with much pointing, or clapping on the back, as 

 the case might be ; and we in our turn were minutely 

 questioned as to our names, ages, number of brothers 

 and sisters and other relatives, etc. ; the women again 

 bringing back Eastern recollections by their resem- 

 blance to the inquisitive, chattering inmates of harems. 



Tlien T ventured to lead the conversation round 



to the coveted chicks ; but it was a little too soon, the 

 subject was abruptly dropped, and we again waded 

 through all manner of irrelevant talk until, a becoming 

 time having elapsed, and the requirements of etiquette 

 being satisfied, the business was allowed to commence. 

 After such an inauguration, it may well be imagined 

 that the bargain was not concluded in a hurry ; and 

 we had paid a tediously long visit before we were at 

 last the happy possessors of the chicks for which we 

 had suffered so much ; and, putting them loose into the 

 spider at our feet, where — being about as large as 

 ducks — they made rather a tight fit, drove off with 

 them. 



A little further on, at another Dutchman's house, 

 10 



