7.V TIMOR'LArr. 



mally clad savap^e sitting at the table, rubbing his hipg against 

 our plates, Ilappily^ I observed one day that they had a 

 Toighty horror of snukfs, whioli supplied me with an effectual 

 means of ridding ourselves when over-bunlened with their com- 

 pany. I woald ciiutiously proceed to insert my hand without 

 any apparent refert>nce to onr visitors, into the large tin in 

 which my spirit specimens were kept, an ojwration they pressed 

 closely and intently round me to watch. A vigorous splutter 

 inside made them draw btir-k somewhat ; but on withdrawing my 

 hand with a writhing snake, the crowd would tumble over each 

 other out at the <loor screaming and' shouting. As they never 

 waited to see the end of the operation, they never came to know 

 that I had not a mania for keeping live snakes. 



In thci treatment of their children, hoth, parents were inva- 

 riably kin€l and nffectionate. To see the fathers carrying about 

 their children in the evenings, with kindly care, one could 

 scarcely believe in the savage ferocity of their natures, as we 

 had seen it exhibited more than once. Like mothers every- 

 where else, the women seemed pleased at the notice A ■ would 



take of their infants, who, like those wnth white skins, derived 

 amusement fnmi little dolls— stuffed with rice grains instead of 

 sawdust ; and the little packets of sugar she often gave tht^ni 

 were inviolat^ly kept though tempting enough to the mothers 

 also, tind given to them little by little. AH their children were 

 profusely adorni'd with beadis and necklets, and their little 

 limbs were encased in perfect bucklera of shell armlets. 



The youths and boys used to play in the evenings in the 

 most lively manner, often in company with the younger fathers, 

 while a crowd of interested villagers looked on. One of their 

 great amusements was the sailing of miniature boats elegantly 

 made out oi' <}€tha~gaha^ or sago palm stems, which they entered 

 for championship in spirited regattas. They would build also 

 forts of sand, and defijud them against their comrade foes with 

 balls of wet mud. The laughter which hailed a good hit told 

 of the enjoyment and interest of the on-looking crowd of 

 villagers of all ages. Their chief game, however, one more of 

 skill and precision than the others, was played with discs cut 

 off from the top of conm shells, of which each player had two 

 One of these quoits he deposited in a little depression in the 

 ground, and thf other he played from a crease a few yards 



V 



