PIG ISLAND. 187 



was selected by Capt. Stanley as the startino* point 

 of the survey^ and on the latter mag-netical observa- 

 tions were made by Lieutenant Dayman. 



In the afternoon I took a passage in a boat sent 

 with a party to Pig* Island — the name afterwards 

 g-iven to that nearest us — to search for water^ and 

 endeavour to communicate with the natives. A 

 party of eig-ht men^ fishing- upon the reef surround- 

 ing- a small islet^ allowed us to approach within a 

 short distance^ but upon our attempting- to leave the 

 boat they became alarmed and retreated to their 

 canoe in which they paddled off in g-reat haste to the 

 landing- place under a small villag-e in sig-ht of the 

 ship. This consisted of three or four long- barn-like 

 huts^ raised from the g-round on posts. A larg-e 

 villag-e was also seen on Joannet Island^ situated^ 

 like the other^ on the brow of a hill in a commanding- 

 position. Five of our party landed about half a 

 mile from where the canoe had disappeared^ appa- 

 rently in some creek of a mang-rove swamp ; while 

 walking- along- the muddy shore we were met by 

 about a dozen natives^ who gTadually fell back as we 

 approached. Seeing- them apparently afraid of our 

 number and weapons^ — they themselves being- un- 

 armed; — I left my g-un behind_, and^ advancing- 

 alone^ holding- up a g-reen branch in each hand^ was 

 allowed to come up to them. They were apparently 

 in a state of great agitation^ and very suspicious of 

 our intentions. The spokesman of the party Avas 

 much lighter in colour than the others^ and I at first 



