May.] wonder EXCITED BY A CANDLE. 245 
at two smiths shops by the way, and procured 
some samples of the iron they had been smelting. 
I did not observe any of their iron hammers above 
two or three pounds weight ; at both places in 
lieu of fore-hammers they used large hard stones, 
which much sooner brought the pick-axe into a 
proper shape than I had expected, considering 
the rudeness of the instrument. 
Our Matchappees and Mashows generally 
cooked and ate in the night-time while we were 
in Kurreechane, not that they preferred doing so, 
but to avoid having visitors, who would expect, 
in compliance with general custom, to receive a 
portion of their fare. 
Four Marootzee men entered the tent after sup- 
per to observe the burning of a candle on the 
table. The two nearest to it were tall, good- 
looking young men. Both stood gazing at it for 
ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, stooping 
with their hands resting upon their knees, and 
their faces on a line with the candle, full of 
wonder, and expressing by laughter the pleasure 
the sight afforded them ; they were greatly 
surprised at its wasting away so slowly, and 
astonished that the flame continued so long and 
so steadily attached to the wick. They had 
long discussions concerning it, which I much 
