177^' XHE PACIFIC OCEAN. 245 



with so much vehemence as the other. We observed 

 that two or three had their hair quite strewed over 

 with small white feathers, and others had large ones 

 stuck into different parts of the head. After the 

 tumultuous noise had ceased, they lay at a little 

 distance from the ship, and conversed with each other 

 in a very easy manner ; nor did they seem to show 

 the least surprise or distrust. Some of them, now 

 and then got up, and said something after the man- 

 ner of their first harangues ; and one sung a very 

 agreeable air, with a degree of softness and melody 

 which we could not have expected > the word haela, 

 being often repeated as the burden of the song. The 

 breeze which soon after sprung up, bringing us nearer 

 to the shore, the canoes began to come off in greater 

 numbers ; and we had, at one time, thirty-two of 

 them near the ship, carrying from three to seven or 

 eight persons each, both men and women. Several 

 of these stood up in their canoes haranguing, and 

 making gestures after the manner of our first visitors. 

 One canoe was remarkable for a singular head, which 

 had a bird's eye and bill, of an enormous size, 

 painted on it ; and a person who was in it, who 

 seemed to be a chief, was no less remarkable for his 

 uncommon appearance ; having many feathers hang- 

 ing from his head, and being painted in an extraor- 

 dinary manner.* He held in his hand a carved bird 

 of wood, as large as a pigeon, with which he rattled 

 as the person first-mentioned had done ; and was no 

 less vociferous in his harangue, which was attended 

 with some expressive gestures. 



Though our visitors behaved very peaceably, and 

 could not be suspected of any hostile intention, we 

 could not prevail upon any of them to come on board. 

 They showed great readiness, however, to part with 



* Viscaino met with natives on the coast of California, while he 

 was in the harbour of San Diego, who were painted or besmeared 

 with black and white, and had their heads loaded ivith feathers. 

 History of California) vol. ii. p. 272. 



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