the tribe, who had now collected in great
numbers, and who encircled me with a ring of hazel eyes. Their
complexion was black, their hair woolly, and many of them were quite
naked, as though they lived in a state of brute nature. There did not
appear to be anyone in recognized authority among them, for they all
talked their outlandish jargon at the same time, and, presently, they
began to search me for such small articles of personal property as I
possessed. My engraving tools and a sailor's sewing kit, given me by
Anna, were taken from me, but to my great good fortune they did not rob
me of my dagger-knife, or my flint and steel which lay concealed in the
inner pocket of my leathern belt, nor of a lock of Anna's hair which I
carried in a silken bag round my neck; and in the possession of which I
found much comfort in my present predicament. My clothes did not
interest my captors, and I was thankful not to be deprived of them.

I was now startled to observe that some of the natives carried at their
girdles a human skull, but I subsequently learned that these trophies
were not, as I had at first supposed, the result of a massacre, but
were the drinking-cups of these people, who appeared to be the most
debased in the scale of humanity I had ever encountered.

During the morning, although I could see that a watch was kept upon me,
I was allowed my liberty, and, in spite of my wretched plight, I became
interested in observing the natives at their daily occupations, one of
which consisted in the capture of wild-fowl from a lagoon close to the
camp by the ingenious method of floating upon their quarry submerged up
to their necks in water, their heads covered by a mass of weeds and
bulrushes. When among the birds they suddenly drew some of them under
the surface without appearing to disturb the others.

And now a loud noise made by the beating of spears and waddies
attracted my attention, when I came to the conclusion some tribal
ceremony was in progress, and shortly afterward a number of youths were
led in procession through the camp. These young men presented a strong
and muscular appearance. Their naked bodies bore evidence of ill-usage;
purple weals and open sores upon their backs and shoulders appeared to
have been inflicted by the severe and long-continued stroke of the
lash.

After a dirge-like song had been sung, a number of the elder warriors
stepped forward, and with a piece of quartz formed a deep incision in
t