The great drawback of football, from the native point of view, was that it entailed so much exertion, which could be otherwise expended in a far more profitable and practical manner.

They argued that if they put the exertion requisite for a game of football into a hunt for food, they would have enough meat to last them for many days.

It was, of course, utterly impossible to bring them round to my view of sports and games.

With regard to the abandoned cricket, they delighted in hitting the ball and in catching it--oh! they were wonderfully expert at this--but as to running after the ball, this was quite impossible.
About this time the girls showed me the steps of an Irish jig, which I quickly picked up and soon became quite an adept, much to the delight of the natives, who never tired of watching my gyrations.

I kept them in a constant state of wonderment, so that even my very hair--now about three feet long--commanded their respect and admiration! Sometimes I would waltz with the younger girl, whilst her sister whistled an old familiar air.