FONDNESS FOR BUFFOONERY. 199 



the beach the seniors frequently invited us to shady 

 spots behind the houses, where they asked us to sit 

 down, and then formed a ring round us, seemingly 

 bent on having a regular gossip. The younger 

 part of the community seemed more intent upon 

 frolic and amusement, and were especially delighted 

 at seeing our dog Fly (a Scotch colley, with all the 

 intelligence of her race) fetch and carry sticks. 

 They were at first a little afraid of her, and she did 

 not greatly admire them. I did not observe that 

 they seemed surprised at her barking, which yet I 

 never heard their own dogs do. They seemed very 

 fond of a little mischief, and frequently one or two 

 would bring us sticks, and point to a group of girls, 

 making signs to throw the sticks over them, so that 

 Fly might run among and frighten them. I have 

 before remarked that the readiest way of making 

 friends with these children of nature is by engaging 

 in tricks of this sort, and amusing them by any kind 

 of sport or buffoonery. In a very short time we 

 were on the most familiar terms with them all, and 

 the women and children crowded round us without 

 fear. 



Koiyop accompanied us on board again, and at 

 sunset we had some difficulty in persuading him and 

 others to leave us and go ashore for the night. 



April 14. — The canoes were off early this morn- 

 ing, bringing some yams, plantains, and cocoa-nuts ; 

 but they seemed more ready to part with their bows, 



