370 THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



it, and again emerged, like Venus of old, from the froth of the 

 sea, in all their beauty. The youngest of the five bathers was 

 a little girl, but eight years old, entirely naked, plunging and 

 sporting in the breakers, with her long hair floating down 

 her back. The symmetry and tournure of her little person 

 were perfect. The next was thirteen, and had so far advanced 

 into womanhood, as to conceal the lower part of her person 

 in a petticoat. Her bosom was bare, white, and rounded, and 

 made her represent more years than she possessed. The third 

 was a matron of some twenty summers; her person was hid- 

 den in a calico dress, which was rent, and permitted the eye 

 to discover at a glance the beauty of her bust. The other two 

 were much further advanced in life, and attracted but little of 

 our attention. 



An elderly lady sat upon the bank, smiling at the pranks of 

 her sporting family, surrounded by half a dozen lean, lazy 

 curs. The father was a long man, of about forty years old, 

 with a grizzled beard of a week's growth. He wore a poncho 

 and a straw hat. When we came up, he was seated in front of 

 the rancho, silent and reflecting ; and near him, a half dozen 

 slattern, barefoot, half dressed black wenches, were preparing 

 dinner. He came forward and saluted us: seeing our attention 

 directed towards the bathers, he ordered chairs to the bank, 

 and invited us to be seated. We soon entered into familiar con- 

 versation, and though we were total strangers, and foreigners 

 to boot, not one of the party appeared to be the least gtn^; and 

 indeed, I have never seen these people, under any circum- 

 stances, the least embarrassed by the sudden appearance of 

 strangers amongst them. The young maids did not abate one 

 jot of their mirth, nor endeavor to avoid our gaze. The old 

 lady and gentleman seemed pleased with the scene, and the 

 first laughed heartily, whenever her daughters were buried in 

 the sea. 



After twenty minutes, we walked about a hundred yards 

 further on, where there was a group seated on the shingle bank, 

 and near the last rancho. Two old men were reclining on the 

 stones, and a middle aged woman was sitting upon a pillion. 

 She was of an Indian caste, and possessed a smiling, good hu- 



