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SHIPWRECKED SAILOR ON SMOKING ROCK 269
The day was too far advanced to begin our pearl-fishing, so we had our dinner consisting of some slices of ham, fried potatoes, and cassava cakes ; and, after having lighted fires along the coast, to keep off wild beasts, we left the dogs on shore, and went on board the canoe. We drew the sail over our heads, and, wrapping ourselves in our bear skins, were soon asleep. Nothing disturbed us save a concert of jackals.
We rose at daylight, and after breakfast began our labours in the pearl-fishery, and with the aid of the rakes, hooks, nets, and poles, soon brought in a large quantity of the precious oysters. We heaped them all up in a pile on the shore, so that the heat of the sun would cause them to open.
Toward evening the coast appeared so beautiful, and the vegetation so rich and glowing, that it was impossible for us to resist the temptation of making an excursion to a little wood, where we had heard turkeys gobbling all day. Each took his own way.
But my discovery was the most important Seeing Nip gathering some large black tubercles, with which the ground was covered, I picked up two or three which I put in my game-bag; and when I examined them later, found they were |
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