26 TlMEHRI. 
built, of hale countenance and sturdy form, very erect, in his carriage, 
and preserving uncommon activity, together with great bodily strength, 
and vast energy of mind. From his figure and the formality of his 
address, he appears to be stern and unbending, but in reality he is affa- 
ble, jocose, and communicative, and has nothing of the cold reserve of 
his country about him. He met us dressed in coat, waistcoat, and breeches 
of nankeen, all cut in the true antique ; a very large and almost cardinal 
hat, of white beaver ; shoes well squared at the extremities, and 
fastened with a pair of plain small buckles : a long staff in his hand, 
and his knuckles ornamented with deep ruffles. As he walked, his staff 
and right hand ruffle made an extensive sweep, describing a wide circle ; 
his step was firm and decisive, the tail of his coat moved with an 
important swing from side to side, in unison with the majestic sway of 
his body — and his general air was commanding and dignified. On 
arriving at the house, he welcomed all the party individually, going 
through the ceremony of deliberately taking each by the hand, and 
bowing to him with the profoundest politeness and urbanity. We took 
our seats in a cool, romantic little cottage, which, in appearance and 
in the simplicity of its structure, might have vied with the dwelling of 
a hermit. Its walls were built of the caudices of the leaves of a fine 
species of palm called Eta, which in substance are lighter than cane. 
These were placed together perpendicularly, and resembled a number of 
well-arranged columns or small pillars, which were divided and sup- 
ported at intervals by others of the bamboo, somewhat larger ; nor 
were any of them concealed or defaced with paint, paper or stucco, 
but all were exposed in the naked simplicity of their original 
form. The partitions dividing the rooms were of similar structure ; 
the floors were of brick ; the windows, simple openings in the walls ; 
and the furniture of plain wood, unadorned. In point of situation 
too, this native little cottage might have been a hermit's fit abode ; 
£or it is placed at the border of a wild savanna, overhung with heavy, 
impenetrable forests, and far removed from the busy tumult of the 
world." 
" The estate is at the greatest depth from the sea, being the most 
distant that has yet been cultivated upon the Mahiica creek, conse- 
quently it is most in the forest, and nearest to the wild Indians. Deep 
and unexplored woods reach near to the door ; before the windows grow 
cotton bushes and bananas ; a small canal passes by the side of the 
cottage ; and the only extensive view is over a wild savanna, carrying 
