Jan. 1828. maria goes on board. 115 



forfeiting advantages and comforts to be derived from traffic 

 would induce them to restrain their resentment. 



I brought no spirits ; for which, after a short time, Maria 

 asked, complaining that she was very ill, and had sore eyes, 

 and for some time past had nothing but water to drink, and 

 wood to smoke. Her illness was evidently assumed, but her 

 eyes seemed highly inflamed ; and no wonder, for the upper 

 part of her face was smeared over with an ochrous red pig- 

 ment, even to the very edge of her eyelids : indeed, the whole 

 tribe had ornamented themselves similarly, in compliment, I 

 suppose, to our visit. 



As I prepared to return on board, Maria's importunity 

 induced me to allow her to accompany me ; upon which she 

 began to muster up all her empty bags, old mantles, and skins, 

 and, attended by her husband, her brother-in-law, his wife and 

 daughter, got into the boat. While going on board, the spray 

 washed the painted countenances of our visitors, much to their 

 regret. 



Upon reaching the ship, I ordered them to be regaled with 

 meat and biscuit, of which they partook very sparingly, but 

 took care to put what remained into their bags. Some spirits 

 and water, too, which I thought would be soon dispatched, 

 and which had been plentifully diluted to prevent their being 

 made tipsy, they emptied into bottles to take on shore " for 

 the evening,'^ when, as Maria said, they would be "very 

 drunk."" 



Among various things shown to amuse them was a musical 

 snulF-box, which I had procured for the express purpose of 

 exciting their astonishment ; but I was surprised to find, that 

 a penny- whistle produced a ten-fold greater effect upon their 

 senses. This indifference to musical sounds I should not have 

 suspected, because they frequently sing, though certainly in a 

 monotonous manner. 



As soon as their repast was concluded, the party, except 

 Maria and the girls, commenced bartering their mantles and 

 skins, and, by the time their stock was expended, they had 

 amassed a large quantity of biscuit, and a bundle of various 



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