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364 on a text whenever he did not quite know what to say next, the old colonist made a long and amusing speech, interspersed with anecdotes of his own early adventures in the colony, but offered no suggestion as to the best, or indeed any means of "paddling" beyond propounding that if somebody could find rock oil, or as he expressed it "find an oil mine," it would be a good thing. However, the discourse was deferentially listened to, on account of the speaker's position, which was a very substantial one, and when he sat down the nephew good-naturedly responded to the call for the song to which such frequent reference had been made.

The attraction of the fair, but especially that of the races, never failed to fill the town with natives, who always congregated to merry-makings of any kind whatsoever, and Khourabene used to extort promises from us, months beforehand, of being granted various articles of dress, in which he might make a becoming appearance upon the race-ground. Neither was it for the white people only that the fair was an occasion for a dance; the natives must also have their ball or "corobbery," the dressing for which is quite as important a business to them as the preparations for a presentation at court would be to any lady or gentleman at home, only that the style is left to the discretion of the guests, and no one is limited to any costume in particular. The greatest amount of fancy is shown in the arrangement of the hair, which is adorned with emu's or cockatoo's feathers, or bound round the temples with the yellow tail of a wild dog, or with anything in fact that is thought to have a suitable and distinguished effect.