454 



THE AEU ISLANDS. 



[chap, ixjci. 



sloping piece of rock about two feet square on which to 

 make a fire and cook some rice. The next day we con- 

 tinued our way back, and on the foUowitig day entered a 

 stream oa the south sitie of the Watelai river, and ascend- 

 ing to where navigation ceased fuund the little village of 

 Wanumbai, consisting of two lar;,'e houses surrounded by 

 plantations, amid the virgin forests of Am. 



As I liked the look of the place, and was desirous of 

 Btaying some time, I sent my pilot to try and make a 

 bai^ain for house accommodation. The owner and cliief 

 man of the place made many excuses. First, he was 

 afraid I woidd not like his house, Lmd then was doubtful 

 whether his son, who was away, would like his admitting 

 me. I hail a long talk witli him myself, and tried to 

 explain what I was doing, and how many things I would 

 buy of them, and showed him my stock of beads, and 

 knives, and cloth, and tobacco, all of which I would spend 

 with his family and friends if he would give me house- 

 room, lie seemed a little staggered at tliis, and said he 

 would talk to his wife, aud iu the meantime I went for a 

 Uttle walk to see the neighbourhood, When I came back, 

 I again sent my pilot, saying that I would go away if he 

 would not give me part of his house. In about half an 

 hour he returned with a demand for about half the cost of 

 building a house, for the rent of a smaR portion of it for a 

 few weeks. As the only dithculty now was a pecuniary 

 one, I got out about ten yards of cloth, an axe, with a few 

 beads and some tobacco, and sent them as my tinal oflier 

 for the part of the house which I had before pointetl out. 

 Tliis was accepted alter a little more talk, imd 1 imme- 

 diately jiroceeded to take possession. 



The Imuse was a good large one, raised as usual about 

 seven feet on posts, the walls about three or fom' feet 

 more, with a high-pitched roof. The floor was of bamboo 

 laths, and in the sloping roof was an immotise shutter, 

 which could be hfted aud propped up to admit hght and 

 air. At the end where this was situated tlie tlour was 

 raised about a foot, and this piece, about ten feet wide 

 by twenty long, quite open to the rest of the house, was 

 the pctrtion I was to occupy. At one end of this piece, 

 separated by a thatch partition, was a cooking place, with 



