THE LITTLE LIVES 199 



massive chignon something after the fashion of 

 medieval Europe. It is said, indeed, that the rank 

 and precedence of a Minnikoy lady are denoted by 

 the size of her head-dress — not, as according to certain 

 philosophers they ought rather to be, by the size of the 

 head itself. These women are as free as are those 

 of our own country from any foolish shyness, as was 

 shown by the fact that a party of them rowed them- 

 selves across the lagoon in a big boat for the special 

 purpose of taking a good look at the Investigator ; 

 and in my medical capacity I found myself treated by 

 all classes of women with a candour and confidence 

 that was quite refreshingly un-Oriental. 



The children of this happy isle take a very much 

 keener interest in life than do those of India, where in 

 dress and bearing every little girl is a miniature 

 woman, and every little boy a miniature philosopher 

 with the gravity of a doctor of divinity. Here the 

 seafaring instinct is strong in the boys, who not only 

 sail their model yachts off the shore, but also venture 

 far out into the lagoon in little sailing-canoes to angle 

 for fish. They manage their toy craft in a most 

 delightful manner, sending them out to sea, and then, 

 like young turtles, following them astride of a plank 

 in a way that would fill an English boy with envy. 



It would not be quite right to convey the impres- 

 sion that life at Minnikoy is all summer afternoon, 

 though it is true that at first one is wonderfully 



