June.] INDUSTRY OF THE WOMEN. 
63 
nor were they detached remarks, but had a con- 
nexion with each other. 
Men are seen asleep in different parts of the 
town at all times of the day, but a woman asleep 
I had not yet seen ; such are the superior habits 
of industry in the female sex. Though it was 
neither the season for digging, sowing, watching, 
or reaping their corn-fields, yet the women were 
busy bringing bushes from a distance to repair 
the fences around their houses, the repairing of 
which, from their nicety in doing it, consumes 
much time, as not the smallest branch must pro- 
ject a single inch, it must be pushed inward and 
entwined with the others, this gives to the fence 
a neat appearance. I did not observe the men 
afford the least assistance in any part of their 
work. 
Some weeks ago the keys of the room behind 
the place of worship were stolen. The loss of 
keys, where no lockmiths are to be found, is 
irreparable. Mateebe being informed of the theft, 
and the value of the keys to the Missionaries, be- 
came so enraged against the offender, that he 
publicly declared, if he found out the person 
he would instantly put him to death. The 
keys were soon afterwards discovered in a bush 
near the meeting. 
