The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-13

business with discovery, and had . cargo
Of silver ore for the Sandwich islands.
THIS remained in the hold. Such ofthe
ships furniture that had fallen over
board was replaced. Gulliver was then
addressed BY an old man who seemed to
be directing the rest he did not under
stand tho words then, but afterwards
learned that they were equivalent to
There you are cap" followed by an
apology for being compelled to saw off
the masts.
The men we're hurried into q wrecking
car which contained an apartment for
fishermen besides one for wrecking
machinery and fishing material. They.
moved rapidly along railroad (which
extended entirely around the island)
and soon reached station. They were
conducted into long low apartment,
lighted by electricity and warmed by
steam.
The floor was of marble, while the
walls and ceiling were frescoed, and or
namented with numerous carved wooden
designs. Each sailor was shown into
an elegant apart nent and told by signs
that he could take warm bath and put
on dry clothing already provided.
They emerged, clad in the close fitting
but comfortable suits of the natives, and
were shown into the dining Here
they beheld long table in the center.
loaded with choice eatables. They after
wards learned that the building was for
the use of fishermen and bathers, being
also at the service of wreckers when
needed.
While eating they were the object of
attention from all those in the room,
some of whom were eating, some attend
ing on the table, and others had dropped
in to get sight of the strange people
cast upon their, island. Our sailors
gained nothing by comparison with the
natives. The latter were somewhat
taller, stouter and more sinewy, appear
ing to be in good health. Thew made
constant attempts to converse with the
sailors, who in turn did their best to un-
derstand. = II.
After breakfast they took the train
again. The first stop was at the junction
of another road running across the
island. They alignted and approached
a building which Gulliver took to be a
school house, from the number of chill
dren at sport around it. This was the
fact, for upon entering they found on
eyerv hand, maps, globes, charts, and
mechanical devices of every description.
Our sailors were made to understand
that they were expected to begin at once
a study of the language. This being a
Gulliver specially, the captain signifed
his earnest wish to begin, and easily per-
suaded his men to do likewise, Suitable
teachers we're appointed, and by noon
on the next day the captain and several
of the men had mastered the language,
while the rest accomplished the task by
night. Some surprise may be felt by the
reader at this wonderful speed. But
Captain Gull1ver tells me that one need
only see the appliances and comprehend
the methods to be convinced.
Their alphabet was phonetic is charac.
ter and when written or printed, is
much briefsr than English. Itwould be
useless to record all the conversations in
the native language, so will reduce il
to English. The gentleman who did
the honors, said he had been appointed
to do so by the council also that men
were at work on the ship, now that the
storm had blown over, and it would be
as good as new in few days. They
could then depart or remain indefinitely
1t had been many years Since foreigner,
had chanced to visit the island and they
wished that the strangers might choose
to remain and give them an account o
the world of which they had heard sc
little. Generations ago, foreigners had
been wrecked here and induced to re-
main. Their descendants could be
pointed out even now.
All this was very pleasing to the cap
tain, for he saw bis opportunity for in
PRODUCING civilization into this commu-
nifty of really intelligent people. He
sent sailor to the ship to get certain
histories, for use as text books on En-
glish civilization. He then requested tt
see something of the country and its
customs.
| ITO be continued