160 FLEET OF INDIAN CANOES. 



from a secure hiding-place, and the wheezy bang 

 proclaims ' all 's safe.' 



The report was still echoing through the. 

 distant hills, when countless tiny specks were 

 discernible, dancing over the waves like birds. 

 On they came, a perfect shoal of them, nearer 

 and nearer, all evidently bound for the ship. I 

 could make out clearly now, that these specks 

 were canoes filled with Indians. By this time 

 our boat was lowered ; how I got into it, I never 

 clearly remember: I have a dim recollection of 

 descending a rope with great rapidity, and 

 finding myself sprawling in the bottom, and 

 being dragged up by the captain, much after 

 the fashion adopted by clowns in a pantomime to 

 reinstate the prostrate pantaloon upon his legs. 

 At any rate I was safe, and the boat, propelled 

 by four sturdy rowers, neared the shore. 



On looking round, I observed the canoes had 

 all turned towards us, and we were soon sur- 

 rounded by the most extraordinary fleet I had 

 ever beheld. The canoes were of all sizes, vary- 

 ing from those used for war purposes, hold- 

 ing thirty men, to the cockleshell paddled by a 

 squaw. With the exception of a bit of skin, or 

 an old blanket tied round the w r aist, the savages 

 were all perfectly nude ; their long black hair 

 hung in tangled elf-locks down their backs, their 



