The natives did not forget their prayers and hymn of thanksgiving, in which we all heartily joined them.  They then looked cautiously about, to ascertain that there were no people on the island who might treat us as enemies.  This necessary precaution being taken, we hurried about in every direction in search of water.  Jerry and I kept together.  Our tongues were parched with thirst.  Some of the natives were climbing the cocoa-nut trees, in case any might still retain milk; but the season for the fruit was now passing.  Indeed, we wanted water, pure simple water. We felt that we should value it far more than the richest wine from the vineyards of Burgundy or the Rhine.  At last we observed a little moisture on the ground near a large tree.  We followed up its trace, and soon, shaded by shrubs, we came to a basin of bright, cool water.  We eagerly stooped down and lapped up some of the delicious fluid, and then shouted loudly to our friends to come and enjoy the valued luxury with us.  In a very short time the pool was surrounded with men, women, and children, ladling up the water with their calabashes and bowls, the mothers pouring it into the mouths of their children before they would themselves touch a drop, while the men knelt down and lapped it up as we had done.  As I watched the scene, I bethought me that it was a subject fit for the exercise of the painter's highest art.