"Come, all you young men and maidens, that wishes for to sail,
And I will let you hear of where you must a-roam;,
We'll embark into a ship which her taups'ls is let fall,
And all unto an ileyand where we never will go home;,
Especiallye you ladies that's anxious for to rove—,
There's fishes in the sea, my love, likewise the buck an' doe,
We'll lie down—on the banks—of yon pleasant shadye gro-ove,
Through the wild woods we'll wander and we'll chase the buffalo—ho—ho—,
We'll chase the buffalO!,
"I really couldn't help laughing to see the slapping, big-bearded fellows, like so many foretopmen, showing off in this manner—one mahogany-faced thoroughbred leading, the rest thundering in at the chorus, with a tremendous stress on the 'Lo—ho—ho,' that made the good Bromley folks gape. As to singing for money, however, I knew no true tar with his members whole would do it; and I supposed it to be merely some 'spree ashore,' until the curious-looking object from behind was lugged forward by a couple of ropes, proving to be a human figure above six feet high, with a rough canvas cover as far as the knees. What with three holes at the face, and the strange colour of the legs, which were bare—with a pair of turned-up India shoes, and the whole shape like a walking smoke-funnel over a ship's caboose—I was puzzled what they would be at. The leading tar immediately took off his hat, waved it round for a clear space, and gave a hem! while he pointed to the mysterious creature. 'Now my lads!' said he, 'this here wonderful bein' is a savitch we brought aboard of us from the Andyman Isles, where he was caught one mornin' paddling round the ship in a canoe made out of the bark of a sartain tree. Bein' the ownly spice of the sort brought to this country as yet is, and we havin' run short of the needful to take us to the next port, we expects every lady and gemman as has the wherewithal will give us a lift by consideration of this same cur'ous sight, and doesn't——' 'Heave ahead, Tom, lad!' said another encouragingly, as the sailor brought up fairly out of breath. 'Doesn't want no man's money for nou't d' ye see, but all fair an' above board. We're not agoin' to show this ere sight excep' you makes up half-a-guinea amongst ye—arter that all hands may see shotfree—them's the articles!' 'Ay, ay, Tom, well said, old ship!' observed the rest; and, after a considerable clinking of coin amongst the crowd, the required sum was poured, in pence and sixpences, into Tom's hat. 'All right!' said he, as soon as he had counted it—'hoist away the tarpaulin, mates!' For my part, I was rather surprised at the rare appearance of this said savage, when his cover was off—his legs and arms naked, his face streaked with yellow, and both parts the colour of red boom-varnish; his red hair done up in a tuft, with feathers all round it, and a bright feather tippet over his shoulders, as he stood, six feet in his yellow slippers, and looking sulkily enough at the people. 'Bobbery puckalow!' said the nautical head-showman, and all at once up jumped the Andaman islander, dancing furiously, holding a little Indian punkah over his head, and flourishing with the other hand what reminded me strongly of a ship's top-maul—shouting 'Goor—goor—gooree!' while two of the sailors held on by the ropes. The crowd made plenty of room, and Tom proceeded to explain to them very civilly, that 'in them parts 'twas so hot the natives wouldn't fight, save under a portiable awning.' Having exhibited the points of their extraordinary savage, he was calmed again by another uncouth word of command, when the man-o'-war's-man attempted a further traverse on the good Bromley folks, for which I gave him great credit. 'Now, my lads and lasses,' said he, taking off his hat again, 'I s'pose you're all British subjects and Englishmen!' at which there was a murmur of applause. 'Very good, mates all!' continued the foretopman, approvingly. 'Then, in course, ye knows as how whatsomever touches British ground is free!' 'Britons never, never shall be slaves!' sung out a boy, and the screaming and hurrahing was universal. Tom stuck his tongue in his cheek to his messmates, and went on: 'Though we was all pressed ourselves, and has knocked about in sarvice of our king and country, an' bein' poor men, we honours the flag, my lads!' 'Hoorah! hoorah! hoor-r-ray!' 'So you see, gemmen, my shipmates an' me has come to the resolve of lettin' this here wild savidge go free into the woods—though bein' poor men, d' ye see, we hopes ye'll make it up to us a bit first! What d' ye say, all hands?—slump together for the other guinea, will ye, and off he goes this minute, and—Eh? what d' ye say, shipmates?' 'Ay, ay, Tom, sink the damage, too!' said his comrades; 'we'll always get a berth at Blackwall, again!'