The sun., 1897-02-28

knife which must have hecn left by some trader.
There were few traces OF white men. however.
Both men and women on the island appeared
brccch cloths made from the fbrcs OF the husks
OF vegetables, but there was no rule as to wear
Dress nna The next saS Without Ss pssd hs
fancy. In these surroundings tho Englishman
treasured the hahilnments OF civilization until
every thread was worn away His ways OF living
were not OF The sort TO preserve his clothing. and
after year on the island ho found his clothes in
rags. He made these rags DO service for another
year. Then he was forced TO make a rude gar
ment after the fashion OF the natives, and SO he
was dressed for the remainder of his stay.
The clup and brcech cloth constituted the war
rior's outfit Fish were caught with lon. wooden
spears, hut this was done more as n pastimc than
bay in front of the settlement was shallow and
clear. and the iish. which swarmed II, could al
most be caught In the hand The most ambitious
sport was canoeing. Brown has brought home
one OF these canoes as souvenir OF the dreariest
years mortal ever knew. II is primitive
looking craft, composed OF main hull and an
outriggcr The hull Is n dug out, with upper
works OF some thin wood, even lighter than that
white wood as the hull. and are lashcd TO the
outer float with wood nbres. The one mast is
stepped well forward and carries fibre sail
something between lattcen and a lug sail. The
craft Is controlled with tack and sheet, and a
steering oar Is lHshcd to the starbuard quarter.
Brown understood the art Of soap making and
this he tried 70 teach to the sayagcs. He used
blubber from fish and ashes and succeeded well
under the circumstances. II was soap, Brown
says, which would have turned their black skins
white and scented them 40 they could have been
smelod Q mile, but they did no; take kindly 10
this product OF civilization. They smearcd the
trees with II and cast IL on the waters, but they
would have none of IL about their persons.
Brown never learned the native language
though he was able 10 use many words and SEN
tences; In time he was able TO understand a
great deal OF what was said 10 him. the natives
talking largely by signs. He was never able TO
make out TIE nature Of their rsi!snon, i they
had any. he saw no idols. Neither had they
customs such az marriage, though they lived in
families.
Four years and some months passed. One
that for which he had been watching so long.
II was small schooner, the tnGine, and she
Brown remembers little ot what followed that
DAY, day., lie lie was. was crazy with 10y, The aSn who
that they found him standing in The water up 10
his necx. where he had rushed out 10 meet them.
weeks before he could speak intclliSibly. He
had hardly Trained q seaicnce during his exile.
The tndinc tooH the adyenturer n ee 10 spdhey
and from there le workci his passage 20 Mel
bourne; He made .evcrai ,oyagcs out OF thai
brother, William d, Brown OF Lynn, from Lake
Enirancc. Tippsland. This was in April. 1924.
relatives some SSrs bstorS. lie -" wSote TO his
brother IN preference 70 ais wife, Tor he feared
return only 10 ind her married TO smother. '-
Returning 20 Melbourne from that voyage on
an attack q influenza and was four months in
claims on the consul, and Was unable 10 SECURE
the assistance usually given 10 sailors. lie gn.
dcrwent many hariships, and had to go into the
manufacture Of soap again, this time in earnest.
lie pcddlcd the soap FROM house TO house, and
just managed To make a living His family In
Lynn did not understand his circumstances, and
unable TO get berth as n sailor and for over two
years he worked on shore IN Melbourne.
Brown continued there al various shore occu-
pations until ec. ~, 500, when he took passage
on board the ophir for London. the passage
money having bcen forwarded to him by his wife
lie arrived In London ON Jan. 20 q. the present
year. and from London went 10 I.!y crpool where
he sailed ON tho GormAnic for New York.