greed that on Monday they should make every preparation
for quitting the tents, and returning to the house at the bay. They
decided that the live stock should all be left there, as the pasturage
was so plentiful and good, with the exception of one goat, which they
would take back with them, to supply them with milk; and they also
agreed that the tents should be left standing, with some cooking
utensils, that in case William and Ready went round for the bananas or
yams, or to examine the live stock, they should not be compelled to
sleep in the open air, and should have the means of dressing their
dinner. William and Ready were to carry the beds, etcetera, round to
the bay in the boat, which they could do in two trips, and Mr and Mrs
Seagrave, with the family, were to walk through the woods after taking a
very early breakfast.

All these points being arranged, they had finished their supper, when
William again brought up the conversation about animals, as he was
delighted to bear Mr Seagrave talk on the subject. The conversation
had not commenced more than a few minutes, when William said--

"Papa, they always say `as stupid as an ass.' Is an ass such a stupid
animal?"

"No, William; it is a very sagacious one; but the character has been
given to the animal more on account of its obstinacy and
untractableness, than on any other account. It is usual to say, as
stupid as an ass, or as stupid as a pig, or a goose. Now, these three
animals are very much maligned, for they are all sagacious animals. But
the fact is that, as regards the ass, we have only very sorry specimens
of the animal in England; they are stunted and small, and, from want of
corn and proper food, besides being very ill-treated, are slow and
dull-looking animals. The climate of England is much too cold for the
ass; in the south of France and the Mediterranean, where it is much
warmer, the ass is a much finer animal; but to see it in perfection we
must go to the Torrid Zone in Guinea, right on the equator, the hottest
portion of the globe, where the ass, in its native state and in its
native country, is a handsome creature and as fleet as the wind; indeed,
supposed to be, and mentioned in the Scriptures as the fleetest animal
in creation. The fact is, that in Asia, especially in Palestine and
Syria, asses were in great repute, and used in preference to horses. We
must see an animal in its own climate to form a true estimate of its
value."

"Doe