One important consequence of this adventure was that I was everywhere received with the very greatest respect.
It may be mentioned here that no matter how unfriendly tribes may be, they always exchange news by means of smoke-signals.

I may also say that at _corroborees_ and such-like festivities a vast amount of poetic boasting and exaggeration is indulged in, each "hero" being required to give practical demonstrations of the things he has seen, the doughty deeds he has done, &c.

He warms up as he goes along, and magnifies its importance in a ridiculous way.

It amuses me to this day to recall my own preposterous songs about how I killed the two whales _with my stiletto_, and other droll pretensions.

But, ah! I was serious enough then! In the mountainous region where I encountered the snakes, I also met a native who actually spoke English.