GIVE AN OPINION. 223 



loose ends of the thatch at the apex. Immediately 

 below this were thrust two sticks across each other, 

 their projecting extremities preventing a tight 

 band of very pliant twigs from starting, and which 

 beneath it had been twisted several times around 

 the loose ends, still farther to secure this part of 

 the roof, that, as the centre of the whole, was 

 something analogous to the key stone of an arch. 



This being finished, the flat hands of Walder- 

 heros and Goodaloo were applied to the irregular 

 projecting straw ends of the lower edge or circum- 

 ference of the roof, which were patted gently back 

 into one even line, with something like the 

 attention to detail of a careful barber arranging 

 the straggling hairs of a full-bottomed wig. The 

 circuit of the whole having been made, I was duly 

 called upon to inspect their work ; but as I 

 supposed that it was not so much to give an 

 opinion as it was to express my approbation, I took 

 care sufficiently to gratify them, by stating it to be 

 my firm belief that no " Gypt" could have done it 

 half so well. To subdue unqualified approbation, 

 and that my praise should have the more import- 

 ance, as coining from a man of decidedly good 

 taste, I suggested that a brightly painted red 

 earthenware crown piece to the whole, like those 

 used to beautify their churches, would have looked 

 more religious, and better than the ragged rusty 

 looking neck of the broken jar, which, not having 

 been put on exactly square, but cocked a little on 



