Jan. 

 1826. 



200 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. w ith woolly hair, tied in a knot like the Radackers ; 

 and another with a light complexion, sandy hair, 

 and European features. 



About forty of the natives came down to the beach 

 when we approached it, with bunches of feathers 

 and leaves fastened upon sticks, and with bludgeons 

 in their hands. Both sexes were naked with the 

 exception of their maros, and without any orna- 

 ments or tattooing. Iron, which they called " toki," 

 was the most marketable article, but the surf was so 

 high that there was very little communication with 

 them. The men, who came off to us in their canoes, 

 would not suffer our boats to approach them. After 

 having made a number of presents to one of them, 

 we thought we might at least examine his canoe ; 

 but he and his comrade paddled away with the 

 greatest precipitation, and were so terrified at the 

 approach of the boat that they jumped overboard 

 and swam towards the shore. 



The canoe was constructed with small pieces of 

 wood well put together and sewed with the bark of 

 a tree, and, like all the single canoes of Polynesia, 

 was provided with an outrigger. She carried two 

 men, but was propelled almost entirely by one, the 

 other being fully occupied in throwing out the 

 water, which came in plentifully at both sides and 

 over the stern. Could they have avoided this and 

 applied the efforts of both to the paddles, her ra- 

 pidity would have surpassed that of our boat ; but 

 as it was she was soon overtaken. We did not 

 keep these poor fellows longer in the water than we 

 could help, but quitted the canoe as soon as we had 

 examined its construction, and had the satisfaction 

 to observe them return to it, and get in, one at a time, 

 at the stern, and then paddled ashore. 



