COMA THE INTERPRETER. 
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worse. lie can remain only one month, however, 
as he must then return to his own island with 
his father and brothers, who are here from Alor 
boat-building. In the intervals of the duties to 
which I must daily direct him, lie stretches 
himself on the furthest corner of the verandah 
to snooze, or busies himself carving out eombs 
from bamboo. But he jumps and runs with a 
smile to serve me when I call. He is enchanted 
with our cooking utensils, and has already indi- 
cated to me which of the pans he would like to 
take to Alor when lie goes. He is also en- 
amoured of my comb, which I now carefully 
hide. One evening I heard a vigorous brushing, 
and rushed round, sure he was taking a loan of 
some of our tooth-brushes, but found to my 
relief that he was using a small neatly tied 
bunch of pigs bristles to polish his really fault- 
less teeth. He does not trouble himself much 
otherwise with efforts for personal cleanliness. I 
give him soap and send him to the stream to 
bathe, but he returns as greasy-looking as ever. 
We have still the two Indians. The younger 
is a nice lad, but evidently cannot stand the 
cold nights of the hills, for he is always ailing. 
One night we thought he was dying : he lay for 
hours insensible, while H. tried every means for 
R 
