177^. ROUND THE WORLD. 99 



the woods. At length two appeared on the banks of 

 the river, a man and a woman ; and the latter kept 

 w r aving something white in her hand, as a sign of 

 friendship. Mr. Cooper being near them, I called to 

 him to land, as I wanted to take the advantage of 

 the tide to get as high up as possible, which did not 

 much exceed half a mile, when I was stopped by the 

 strength of the stream and great stones which lay in 

 the bed of the river. 



On my return, I found that, as Mr. Cooper did not 

 land when the natives expected him, they had retired 

 into the woods ; but two others now appeared on the 

 opposite bank. I endeavoured to have an interview 

 with them ; but this I could not effect. For, as I 

 approached the shore, they always retired farther into 

 the woods, which were so thick as to cover them 

 from our sight. The falling tide obliged me to re- 

 tire out of the river, to the place where we had spent 

 the night. There we breakfasted, and afterwards 

 embarked, in order to return on board; but, just as 

 we were going, we saw two men, on the opposite 

 shore, hallooing to us, which induced me to row over 

 to them. I landed, w T ith two others, unarmed ; the 

 two natives standing about 100 yards from the water- 

 side, with each a spear in his hand. When we three 

 advanced, they retired ; but stood when I advanced 

 alone. 



It was some little time before I could prevail upon 

 them to lay down their spears : this, at last, one of 

 them did, and met me with a grass plant in his hand, 

 one end of which he gave me to hold, while he held 

 the other : standing in this manner, he began a 

 speech, not one word of which I understood ; and 

 made some long pauses ; waiting, as I thought, for 

 me to answer ; for when I spoke, he proceeded. As 

 soon as this ceremony was over, which was not long, 

 we saluted each other. He then took his hahou, or 

 coat, from off his own back, and put it upon mine ; 

 after which, peace seemed firmly established. More 



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