202 BARE-TAILED OPOSSUM. 



where the interior of the island was accessible 

 without considerable difficulty. 



The manners of these people were very frank and 

 gentle, full of fun and cheerfulness. They were 

 great beggars for tobacco, as long as our stock 

 lasted, but were soon satisfied when told it was all 

 gone. On taking leave, they all pressed round to 

 shake hands with us, and seemed to beg us to come 

 again. In shaking hands they do not clasp as we 

 do, but each gently scratches with the nails against 

 the palm of the other's hand. 



On returning on board at sunset I learnt that a 

 very fine bare-tailed opossum or "barreet" had 

 been seen ashore on Maer in a cage, which they 

 seemed to prize very highly, taking it out occasion- 

 ally and petting it, and allowing it to climb about 

 them. Melville had taken a sketch of it. 



April \5. — At daylight I went ashore in quest of 

 the "barreet," taking with me a basket-full of 

 articles I thought irresistible, consisting of an old 

 sword furbished up, an axe, knives, bottles, varie- 

 gated handkerchiefs, &c. Mr. Millery had left a 

 note-book ashore, having let a man examine it, and 

 forgotten to ask for it again. On inquiring for it 

 this morning it was immediately brought to him, 

 with a rude- caricature of himself in one page, with 

 a hat on, and a pipe in his mouth, sketched by one 

 of themselves. 



A shower of rain was falling as we landed, and 

 they all immediately retired to the shelter of some 



