380 SHELTER FROM A STORM. Chap. XIX. 



was too late to change it again, so the worst only was 

 stolen. 



We could not suspect the people of the village near which 

 we lay. We had probably been followed for days by the 

 thieves watching for an opportunity. And our suspicions 

 fell on some persons who had come from the East Coast ; but 

 having no evidence, and expecting to hear if our goods were 

 exposed for sale in the vicinity, we made no fuss about it, 

 and began to make new clothing. That our rifles and revolvers 

 were left untouched was greatly to our advantage : yet we 

 felt it was most humiliating for armed men to have been so 

 thoroughly fleeced by a few black rascals. 



Some of the best fisheries appear to be private property. 

 We found shelter from a storm one morning in a spacious 

 lagoon, which communicated with the lake by a narrow 

 passage. Across this strait stakes were driven in, leaving 

 only spaces for the basket fish-traps. A score of men were 

 busily engaged in taking out the fish. We tried to purchase 

 some, but they refused to sell. The fish did not belong to 

 them, they would send for the proprietor of the place. The 

 proprietor arrived in a short time, and readily sold what we 

 wanted. 



Some of the burying-grounds are very well arranged, and 

 well cared for ; this was noticed at Chitanda, and more parti- 

 cularly at a village on the southern shore of the fine harbour 

 at Cape Maclear. Wide and neat paths were made in the bury- 

 ing-grouncl on its eastern and southern sides. A grand old fig- 

 tree stood at the north-east corner, and its wide-spreading 

 branches threw their kindly shade over the last resting-place 

 of the dead. Several other magnificent trees grew around 

 the hallowed spot. Mounds were raised as they are at 

 home, but all lay north and south, the heads apparently 

 north. The graves of the sexes were distinguished by 



