Dec. 

 1825. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 67 



the islanders, for we expected to see only a well- chap 

 provided canoe in their possession, and we therefore 

 concluded that the boat must belong to some whale- 

 ship on the opposite side ; but we were soon agree- 

 ably undeceived by the singular appearance of her 

 crew, which consisted of old Adams and all the 

 young men of the island. 



Before they ventured to take hold of the ship, 

 they inquired if they might come on board, and 

 upon permission being granted, they sprang up the 

 side and shook every officer by the hand with un- 

 disguised feelings of gratification. 



The activity of the young men outstripped that 

 of old Adams, who was consequently almost the last 

 to greet us. He was in his sixty -fifth year, and was 

 unusually strong and active for his age, notwith- 

 standing the inconvenience of considerable corpu- 

 lency. He was dressed in a sailor's shirt and trousers 

 and a low-crow r ned hat, which he instinctively held 

 in his hand until desired to put it on. He still re- 

 tained his sailor's gait, doffing his hat and smoothing 

 down his bald forehead whenever he was addressed 

 by the officers. 



It was the first time he had been on board a ship 

 of war since the mutiny, and his mind naturally 

 reverted to scenes that could not fail to produce a 

 temporary embarrassment, heightened, perhaps, by 

 the familiarity with which he found himself ad- 

 dressed by persons of a class with those whom he 

 had been accustomed to obey. Apprehension for his 

 safety formed no part of his thoughts : he had receiv- 

 ed too many demonstrations of the good feeling that 

 existed towards him, both on the part of the British 

 government and of individuals, to entertain any 



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