CANOES VISIT THE SHIP. 195 



trees^ and a villag'e of four or five huts. We landed 

 on a small islet connected with the south-west 

 point of Pig- Island by a reef^ and strolled about 

 with our g'uns while the boat's crew Avere having* 

 their dinners. Several llegajwdii were seen and one 

 was shot^ — it afterwards proved to be the J/. Duper- 

 reyi, previously known as a native of Port Dorey 

 on the north-west coast of New Guinea. While 

 holding- on to the reef a party of natives, apparently 

 from Brierly Island^ paddled up in a canoe, and^ 

 after some hesitation at first, came alono-gide callino* 

 out kelumai — kehmmij which we conjectured to be 

 their word for iron. For a few trifling* articles we 

 obtained a spear or two, and some cooked yams^ 

 and parted g'ood friends, after which we returned to 

 the ship, having* completed the circuit of the island 

 without finding* a practicable watering* place. 



June ISth. — Five canoes came off this mornino- 

 with seven or eig'ht natives in each, but apparently 

 not with the intention of bartering*, althoug'h they 

 remained for a short time near the Bramble 3 it 

 was thoug-ht that some allusions were made by 

 them to the pistol stolen yesterday, but this did not 

 appear to be certain. After a while they crossed 

 over to the ship, and from a respectful distance — as 

 if afraid to come closer— used many violent g*esti- 

 culations, talking* vehemently all the while, and 

 repeatedly pointed to the break in the reef by 

 which we had entered Coral Haven, waving* us off 

 at the same time. Oar red friend from Pio- Island 



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