HocKEN. — Abel Tasman and his Journal. 131 



least what they said. However, we called to them again in 

 answer, wliereupou they cried again several times, but came 

 no nearer than a stoneshot. They also repeatedly blew on 

 an instrument which was like a Moorish trumpet. We let 

 one of our sailors (the one who could play on the trumjoet) 

 play some pieces in answer. Those on the Zeehaeu made 

 their second mate do the same. (He had formerly been a 

 trumpeter on shore, and had been made at Mauritius a 

 second mate by the Council of the Port and Shipping). After 

 this had been repeated on both sides several times, and as the 

 evening shade was falling more and more, those in the boats 

 finally cleared and went away. We ordered our people (for 

 security, and to be well on guard) to keep entire quarterly 

 watch (as is usual at sea), and that the munitions of war, 

 such as muskets, pikes, and cutlasses, should be got ready. 

 We let off some pieces on the top deck and reloaded, so that 

 all accidents might be forestalled and we might defend our- 

 selves in case these people might attempt anything. Var., 9° 

 north-easterly. 



19th. — This morning early a boat of these people, having 

 thirteen men, came about a cast away from our ship. They 

 called out several times, which we could not understand, the 

 :speech having no resemblance to the vocabulary given to us by 

 their Highnesses the Governor-General and Council of India. 

 But this is not to be wondered at, as it was the language of the 

 Salomon Island. These people were (so far as we could see) of 

 ordinary height, but coarse of voice and strong, their colour 

 between brown and yellow. They had black hair, fast bound 

 right up on the crown of their heads, in manner and fashion of 

 the Japanese on their heads, but with a long, thick tuft of 

 hair in wdiich was stuck a large, thick w^iite feather. Their 

 boats were two long narrow prows fastened together, over 

 which were placed some boards or other seats, so that those 

 above can see through the water under the canoes ; their 

 paddles were a full fathom long, and sharp at the end. With 

 these boats they could obtain great speed. Their clothing (so 

 it appeared) was some of mats, others of cotton, whilst most 

 were naked to the waist. We pointed out to them many 

 times that they should come on board, showing white linen 

 and some knives from those given us in our cargo. But in- 

 stead of coming nearer they returned at last to shore. Mean- 

 while the officers of the Zeehaen came on board us (by 

 order of the previous evening), and a council was held, when 

 it was resolved to go as near shore as we could, as there was 

 good anchorage, and these people (as it seemed) sought our 

 friendship. Soon after taking this resolution we saw anothcir 

 seven boats come from the shore, whereof one (high in front, 

 and pointed), manned with seventeen men, pulled behind the 



