Introduction
These adventure stories for juveniles were later collected and published as a book in 1874.

Hayward, William Stephens: Rodney Ray, or, The Life and Adventures of a Scapegrace
C.H. Clarke, London, 1874.
Internet Archive
https://archive.org/details/22609003.2183.emory.edu

---

Page 128

Page 132

Great was Rodney Ray's astonishment when, on anchoring in a bay off one of these islands, the barque was boarded by some fifty or sixty natives - women mostly, young and handsome, and all perfectly naked.
...
In all their sports they are very agile, and when at war evince considerable bravery.
They are excessively fond of swimming and playing in the surf, and practise the art to such perfection that they frequently dive after and catch fish in their hands.
When the sea is rough and the surf rolls in towards the beach, over the coral reefs and rocks, then it is that they delight to amuse themselves upon the surfboard.
They go to the outer edge of the reef or bank, and when a heavy roller approaches they stand ready, and as it passes them they plunge in and dexterously rise on their board, which buoys them up, and thus they ride triumphantly on the waves, which carry them with astonishing rapidity to the beach.

Men, women, and children may be seen altogether enjoying this sport, which to the stranger appears highly dangerous.

---

The Boys' Journal. Henry Vickers, Strand, London Volume 7, 1866.. Hathi Trust https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433082289764 Hayward, William Stephens: Rodney Ray, or, The Life and Adventures of a Scapegrace C.H. Clarke, London, 1874. Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/22609003.2183.emory.edu

---