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

AMBRYM 209

In this district, I could go about with my servants
wherever I pleased; only one Santo boy I had with
me did not feel safe, and suddenly developed great
interest in cooking, which allowed him to stay at
home while the rest of us went on expeditions. His
cooking was not above reproach; he would calmly
clean a dirty cup with his fingers, the kitchen towels
occasionally served as his head-dress, and one day he
tried to make curry with some iodoform I had left in
a bottle on the table. However, I had learned long
ago not to be too particular, and not to take too much
interest in the details of the kitchen.

An exceptionally bright man had offered me his
services as guide, and with his help I obtained many
objects I would never have found alone. He had a
real understanding of what I wanted, and plenty of
initiative. He made the women bring their modest
possessions, and they approached, crawling on their
hands and knees, for they are not allowed to walk
before the men. Later on the men appeared with
better things. It is an odd fact that all over the
archipelago the owner rarely brings things himself,
' but generally gives them to a friend. This may be
due to the desire to avoid the ridicule they would
surely be exposed to if their possessions were to be
refused. The extreme sensitiveness and pride with
which the natives feel every refusal and are deeply
hurt by any rebuke, may surprise those who look on
them as savages, incapable of any finer sentiment;
but whoever learns to know them a little better will

find that they have great delicacy of feeling, and will
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