It was made of rattans and
covered with cotton twist, so as to be both light, strong, and
very tough.
I should think it would resist any ordinary bullet.
Abort the middle there was au arm-hole with a shutter or flap
over it. This enables the arm to be put through and the bow
drawn, while the body and face, up to the eyes, remain protected,
which cannot be done if the shield is carried on the arm by loops
attached at the back in the ordinary way. A few of the young men
from our house went to help their friends, but I could not bear
that any of them were hurt, or that there was much hard fighting.
May 8th.-I had now been six weeks at Wanumbai, but for more than
half the time was laid up in the house with ulcerated feet. My
stores being nearly exhausted, and my bird and insect boxes full,
and having no immediate prospect of getting the use of my legs
again, I determined on returning to Dobbo. Birds had lately
become rather scarce, and the Paradise birds had not yet become
as plentiful as the natives assured me they would be in another
month. The Wanumbai people seemed very sorry at my departure; and
well they might be, for the shells and insects they picked up on
the way to and from their plantations, and the birds the little
boys shot with their bows and arrows, kept them all well supplied
with tobacco and gambir, besides enabling them to accumulate a
stock of beads and coppers for future expenses.
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