NUMEROUS VISITOES TO THE SHIP. 2C)d 



and some loose bottom boards form a partial shifting" 

 deck. The mast is supported above by two stays 

 fore and aft^ and below steps into a massive bent 

 timber crossing* the centre of the canoe^ resting* on 

 the bottom^ and is secured above to the inner end of 

 the long- cross beam by strong" lashing-s^ and some 

 larg'e wedges between it and one side. The sail is of 

 gTeat size^ behig as long- as the platform^ but both 

 in construction and mode of manag'ement is pre- 

 cisely similar to that formerly described with refer- 

 ence to a canoe seen at Coral Haven^ supposed to 

 have come from Piron's Island. 



A few days ag'o we saw another canoe closely 

 resembling- the above mentioned^ but much smaller 

 and carrying- only eleven people. It exhibited^ 

 however^ one peculiarity in the g-reat breadth of 

 beam amidships — amounting- to four feet — which 

 g-ave it much room for stowag-e and additional 

 buoyancy. 



Of late the number of natives daily coming- off to 

 the ship has rapidly increased, so as now to amount 

 to upwards of 100 in about 15 canoes and cata- 

 marans. Those from Tissot Island and the main- 

 land usually arrive in the forenoon^ and^ after 

 an hour's stay^ leave us for the northern villag-e on 

 the nearest Brumer Island^ Avhere they spend the 

 the nig'ht and return the next morning- a\ itli a fair 

 wind. The noise and scrambling- along-side when 

 bartering- is g'oing- on baffles all description^ — besides 

 the usual talking' and shouting-^ they have a 



