The following "yarn" he sent to me lately, in a letter on some points of native customs.

Of course the description of the Beach-comber, in the book referred to, is purely fictitious.

The yarn of "The Thumbless Hand" is here cast in a dialogue, but the whole of the strange experience described is given in the words of the narrator.

It should be added that, though my friend was present at some amateur seances, in a remote isle of the sea, he is not a spiritualist, never was one, and has no theory to account for what occurred, and no belief in "spooks" of any description.

His faith is plighted to the theories of Mr.Darwin, and that is his only superstition.