The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-02-12
BLINKEY.

As years come upon us, and the habits
of memory begin to supplant those of
hope, much of tinsel and glitter of life's
drama falls like very scales from our
eyes; true merit stands forth in spite of
the obscurity of its possessors, and nat
ural qualities assert their due superiority
over those which blind fortune alone
will often be found to have conferred. /
have selected for my heroine in the fol-
lowing sketch a poor girl, born and bred
almost savage, and occupying. after her
transition to what is known as civiliza-
ton, but a very humble round of the
worldly ladder; yet it will be seen TINT
she had claims of no mean order upon
eur consideration and respect. These
claims l venture to present with a real
sonable hope of the reader acceptance,
though she herself would have blushed
at the thought of fame.
But little more than two short decades
have lapsed since the bark Dolphin set
out on 4 trading voyage from Singapore.
Under the auspices Of a favorable breeze
and tide, the verdant shores of the
Straits of Malacca were soon passed, and
the China sea was entered, across which
the vessel stretched her way direct for
Borneo. After having been becalmed
for day or two off Cape Datee,-a we'll
known promontory projecting its huge
outline far into the sea,-the wind fresh
ened almost to gale; and, in few
hours, anchor was cast off the Sontubong
entrance of the Sarawak river, there to
await the foodtide which should carry
the gallant ship and her crew to Kuch.
ing, the port of her destination. A few
miles above this place, the business OF
the exchange of commodities with the
Malayans of the region was carried on
during a somewhat protracted stay OF
nearly a month.
At first the inhabitants were APP
preached with all the caution which a
reputation for unmitigated ferocity and
treachery 50 naturally suggested. A
short acquaintance, however, soon con-
WINGED the adventures that whatever
might be the general characteristic OF
the race, the people with whom they
were now dealing possessed many fine
and generous qualities, and the most
friendly relations were, in short time,
established between the natives and their
visitors. The ship herself soon became a
place of attractive resort to those living
in the neighborhood of her anchorage
ground, and, of an evening, her deck
generally presented lively scene OF
mirth and social amusement, in which
the elder as well as the younger of both
sexes freely joined. Swimming parties
were also frequent; indeed, the Dolphin
was oftener reached from the shore by the
unassisted stroke of the arm than by that
of the paddle. In this exercise, the girls,
whose graceful dresses were in no way
disordered by the submersion, were very
expert. Little prizes offered by the crew
were eagerly contended for by these 1.-THE
young creatures, and a string of glass
beads or other shining trinket was worn
u
conscious pride of the winner of an 18th
milan crown. But by far the most sue
cessful in the pursuit of these aquatic
honors was Qumma-gong-bi nga, the or
phan daughter of a Dyak, formerly OF
Sarebas; and so great favorite did she
shortly become with the Dolphins that
her name would have rung from every
lip if it had not been for its utter unpro-
Jack has a weakness, it is for. short
handles; :" and so the last two syllabIes
of the jawbreaker were at first adopted
in lieu of the whole; these again soon
gave way TO 4" Blinkey alone on
account of the fancied proximity in
sound, but because of peculiar drooT
Of the upper lid of one of the eyes
which, while it sufficiently marked the
expression of the girls countenance, did
not in the least detract from her beauty
for of this it was, on all sides admitted
that she had her full share
Business, meanwhile, goes steadily on
bOtu HS1OGe anu dHOdi anu, all 100 SOOl
for the young people, who have as yet
thought of no such thing, is now at al
end. The Dolphin weighs her anchor
and is ready to drop down with the tide
and her departure is attended with
mutual regrets. Farewells are spoken
and hopes of future meeting on sub
sequent voyage are sincerely expressed
| But Blinkey remains on board. She will
see the ship enter the great sea, she says
and then she will return to her people
Thus, she has already learned little
English. The captain is afraid she will
! find no suitable accommodation on board
while the ship is in the river, and, it may
| be, waiting at its mouth. But Charley
| Hartell, the carpenter, will, with tn,
| commander permission, throw mp
| bulkhead or two, and thus provide
cabin for Blinkey, which, though rough
enough, will vet I've her own Four eve
plead cloqucniIy with Capt. Taylor and
then with Wbew, 50 blow. il 1' Ia
gives his consent He j. Il very goo,
hearted man, is Capt. Taylor. Tines