[50] Sauer, Expedition to the Northern Parts of Russia, performed by Billings, p. 124.
[51] Tennent, Ceylon, ii. 445. Sarasin, Forschungen auf Ceylon, iii. 546.
[52] Nevill, ‘Vaeddas of Ceylon,’ in Taprobanian, i. 192.
[53] Pridham, Account of Ceylon, i. 460 sq.
The Alfura of Halmahera,[54] the Bataks of Sumatra,[55] and the Dyaks of Borneo[56] are praised for their grateful disposition of mind. Of the Hill Dyaks Mr. Low observes that gratitude “eminently adorns the character of these simple people, and the smallest benefit conferred upon them calls forth its vigorous and continued exercise.”[57] The Motu people of New Guinea are “capable of appreciating kindness,”[58] and have words for expressing thanks.[59] Chamisso speaks highly of the gratitude evinced by the natives of Ulea, Caroline Islands:—“Any thing, a useful instrument, for example, which they have received as a gift from a friend, retains and bears among them as a lasting memorial the name of the friend who bestowed it.”[60] When Professor Moseley at Dentrecasteaux Island, of the Admiralty Group, gave a hatchet as pay to his guide, according to promise, the guide seemed grateful, and presented him with his own shell adze in return.[61] Though the Tahitians never return thanks nor seem to have a word in their language expressive of gratitude, they are not devoid of the feeling itself.[62] Backhouse tells us of a Tasmanian native who, having been nursed through an illness, showed many demonstrations of gratitude; and he adds that this virtue was often exhibited among these people—a statement which is corroborated by the accounts of other travellers.[63] Of the Australian aborigines Mr. Ridley writes:—“I believe they are as a people remarkably susceptible of impressions from kind treatment. They recognised me as one who sought their good, and were evidently pleased and thankful to see that I thought them worth looking after.”[64] The Adelaide and Encounter Bay blacks are said to display attachment to persons who are kind to them.[65] Speaking of the Central Australian tribes, Messrs. Spencer and Gillen observe that, though they are not in the habit of showing anything like excessive gratitude on receiving gifts from the white man, they are in reality by no means incapable of that feeling;[66] and other writers report instances of gratitude displayed by natives of West Australia[67] and Queensland.[68]
[54] Kükenthal, Forschungsreise in den Molukken und Borneo, i. 188.
[55] Junghuhn, Die Battaländer auf Sumatra, ii. 239.
[56] Ling Roth, Natives of Sarawak, i. 74, 76.
[57] Low, Sarawak, p. 246.
[58] Stone, A Few Months in New Guinea, p. 95.