[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

146 WITH NATIVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

front view. The poor things got more and more
nervous, the men roared, I was desperate,—altogether
it was rather unsatisfactory.

I was in need of more bearers to carry the pro-
visions I had bought, and the chiefs were quite
willing to supply them; but their orders had abso-
lutely no effect on the men, who were too lazy, and I
should have been in an awkward position had not
one of the chiefs hit on the expedient of employ-
ing his women. They obeyed without a moment’s
hesitation ; each took a heavy load of yarn, all but the
favourite wife, the only pretty one of the number;
.her load was small, but she had to clear the trail,
walking at the head of the procession.

The women led the way, chatting and giggling,
patient and steady as mules, and as sure—footed and
supple. Nothing stops them; with a heavy load on
their heads they walk over fallen trunks, wade
through ditches, twist through vines, putting out a
hand every now and then to feel whether the bunch
of leaves at their back is in place. They Were
certainly no beauties, but there was a charm in their
light, soft step, in the swaying of their hips, in the
dainty poise of their slim ankles and feet, and the
softness and harmony of all their movements. And
the light playing on their dark, velvety, shining
bodies increased this charm, until one almost forgot
the many defects, the dirt, the sores, the disease.
This pleasant walk in the cool, dewy forest, under
the bright leaves, did not last long, and after two
hours’ tramp we reached our destination.