44 L. HARGKAVE. 



them to any expedient to perpetuate their memory and 

 attract the attention of those they knew would seek them. 

 One of these was the making of tortoise-shell masks and 

 head pieces in mimicry of their appearance, which their 

 descendants were taught to use in innocent dances, singing 

 the praise of those that brought the cocoa-nut, with words 

 to this effect: — "Read! O read our story! we only act 

 and tell the deeds of our ancestors ; each mask is not a 

 god, but the likeness of one of those who gave us knowledge.' ' 

 Bear in mind the probability that less than six of the ship's 

 company could either read or write. Nothing so much as 

 his unfortunate name has tended to destroy De Vega's 

 relics. When visitors see the masks and dancing, they ask 

 44 What is this?" and the natives answer ' Devega-Devega.' 

 The visitor notes it down 'Devil-Devil,' and this is the 

 name now used in the Straits for masks. And masks and all 

 connected with them, are, and have been, long under the bann 

 of zealous evangelists, and marked for ruthless destruction. 

 The masks of to-day made of green turtle shell, grass, 

 feathers, etc., may bear as much likeness to the De Vega 

 masks, as our toyshop masks do to Guy Fawkes, and but 

 serve to accentuate the truth that human nature is world 

 wide in its methods. 



A lump of silver coins has been found near Murray Islands, 

 but I have not heard if they have been separated, and the 

 impressions on the inner ones inspected. This is probably 

 one man's purse. The ship's gold is in a safe place. In 

 April or May 1906 two ancient brass cannon were also 

 recovered, which have a story to tell. 



The ruck of the ship's company would remain at Murray 

 Islands, and any others of a superior nature must have 

 passed on to and settled at Darnley Island (Eroob) as masks 

 existed there when Sir William Macleay and Oapt. Onslow 

 visited the place in the 'Chevert. 1 I was on the 'CheverVs' 



