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The hearts of the castaways were filled with contentment as their stomachs were filled with food, and so busily did they devote themselves to eating, drinking, and sleeping that they forgot all about Moussa Isa beneath the palm-mats. When they chanced upon him he was just alive, and his wound was closed. Moussa Isa was tougher than an Indian chicken.
The landlord of "over there" was very civil. He had a shed for the horses, and could give us palm-mats to sleep upon on the floor, or on the shop-counter, which was very narrow, but long enough for us both; and this latter alternative we chose.
Doubtless telescopes were on them already. Keep in a close group round the body, smuggle it under the palm-mats and make believe to have been trying to kindle a fire in an old kerosine-oil tin.... Signals of distress appeared and Moussa Isa disappeared. The great steamer approached, slowed down, and came to a standstill beside the boat of the starving castaways.
A dwelling of this character, carpeted with palm-mats, and flanked with verandas, brings a flowing measure of comfort to the dweller in the tropics; but the gales of the annual southwest monsoon play havoc with cadjan roofs and walls.
Their canoes are "very neatly and well made, sewed together with cord, and finished with a white or orange-colored bitumen, in place of pitch. They are very light, and the natives sail in them with their lateen sails made of palm-mats, with so much swiftness against the wind or with a side wind that it is a thing to marvel at."
They place a counterweight in one end of their canoes, and rig on them lateen-like sails made of palm-mats. Calms must be avoided and the trade winds caught, in order to facilitate navigation.
These consist of fine and well-made palm-mats, a few slaves for the natives, sago a certain food of theirs prepared from the pith of palms and tibors; large and small jars, glazed black and very fine, which are of great service and use; and excellent camphor, which is produced on that island.
He slept that night in the little shanty built of mud and roofed chiefly with old palm-mats, which was gracefully called the head surgeon's quarters. That is to say, he partook of such hospitality as I had to offer him. Sammy and I had met before he had touched a rope or I a scalpel.
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