"
Chapter XXXIX
The next morning, as there was no particular work on hand, Ready and
Mr. Seagrave took the lines to add to the stock of the fish-pond. As
the weather was fine and cool, William accompanied them, that he might
have the benefit of the fresh air. As they passed the garden, they
observed that the seeds sown had already sprung up an inch or two above
the ground, and that, apparently none of them had missed. While Ready
and Mr. Seagrave were fishing, and William sitting near them, William
said to his father--
"Many of the islands near us are inhabited; are they not, papa?"
"Yes, but not those very near us, I believe. At all events, I never
heard any voyagers mention having seen inhabitants on the isles near
which we suppose the one we are on to be."
"What sort of people are the islanders in these seas?"
"They are various. The New Zealanders are the most advanced in
civilization. The natives of Van Diemen's Land and Australia are some
portions of them of a very degraded class - indeed, little better than
the beasts of the field."
"I have seen them," said Ready; "and I think I can mention a people,
not very numerous indeed, who are still more like the beasts of the
field.
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