IN TIMOB-LAUT, 



329 



discovered that the subject of their excited wrangling was 

 whether I should be permitted to leave at all. My guide, after 

 whiBpering to me not to be fthirmed and adding a remark I did 

 not compreliend, went away, luckily leaving ine door open, 

 intending, as I imagined, to return soon ; but he either joined 

 some other drinking party and forgot to do so, or pnrfmsely 

 left me to my own resources* Pretending to be quite pleased 

 to prolong my visit, I presented my cup for more spirit, and 

 OS successive rounds were filled my companions Ijecame in- 

 capable of observing that 1 did ni>t drain niy cnp till I had 

 passed ita contents through the Eoor, and was imperceptibly 

 Hearing the now open trap-door. I took the first oiiportunity 

 of diving through the orifice, and with a bold step shaped my 

 course for the stairway at the top of the rock, where I felt I 

 could dii^pute my departure on even terms. My guide appeared 

 with rather a hang-dog look, and w© wasted no time in getting 

 to our btmt and rowing out some distiince from the shore. 



I did not venture a second time amongst them, although 

 the vilhigt'rs of Waitiihd in order to secure a share of the cli>ths 

 ami other goods I was disposing of, came over constantly to 

 our village in twos or threes, to barter pr«)visiori9, ctirved 

 work, and ethnological objects. On one oct-usion an amusing 

 incident occurred during the purchase from a Waitidal man of 

 a cranium. He had brought me, with the usual secrecy, a fine 

 skull, but fitted with a louerjuw which I saw did not belong to it. 

 I pointed out the fact, and urged him to make a search for the 

 corresponding bone. After arguing the point a long time with- 

 out effect, he thought ho had.aettletl matters by stiying, There 

 is rcidly no mistake j 1 remember quite well when my father 

 was alive he had just this sort of uufler jaw ! '* Finding it was 

 no good and that 1 would uot trade, he went his way ; but in a 

 few hours he came back with a beaming tace — he had found 

 his father*s lower jaw. His father s brother had been laid down 

 on the same stone, hence the mistake. 1 traded to his dutiful 

 son's satisfaction, who, before giving me possession, inserted a 

 piece of pinang nut between its toeth, and in a moat reveren- 

 tial nnmner paid his last invocation to the Head of his line. 

 That son*s welfare is reguJated now from the Mammalian 

 Gallery of the Britiish Museuin ! 



The rostliidder, backed by the action of the Waitidal 



