180 
THE BOYS, 
on liis shoulder, and the whole village— man, 
woman, and child — in the fray. H. and the 
post-holder went into their midst and managed 
to quiet them. 
Still, as a rule, when sober they are good- 
natured enough, and live in harmony with each 
other. They are a simple, bold, free people, in- 
genious and ingenuous, supplying their own 
every absolute need, utterly untaught in civilised 
ways. They know no rule, no master, they do 
not understand obejdng; you may beg, bribe, 
barter, you need not command. 
Now as to the boys— such nice little lads they 
are ! When I first went, I used to play with 
them on the sands at sundown, running races, 
and taking an interest in their games ; after- 
wards, when weakened by fever, I used to draw 
objects familiar to them on the sand, and they 
guessed what they were. I could then talk with 
them, and they seemed to enjoy the fun as much 
as I. How near of kin is the whole world ! At 
a very early age the children begin to wade 
about the shallow margins of the sea, practising 
with spear and arrow the capture of fish, training 
arm and eye, till, when they have come of age, 
they have attained an almost unerring accuracy 
of aim. One of their great amusements is the 
