PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 143 



each. At first several of them were fastened to- 

 gether, and constituted a large platform, capable of 

 holding nearly a hundred persons ; but before they 

 came near enough to communicate they separated, 

 furled their sails, and took to their paddles, of which 

 there were about twelve to each raft. We were 

 much pleased with the manner of lowering their 

 matting sail, diverging on different courses, and 

 working their paddles, in the use of which they had 

 great power, and were well skilled, plying them 

 together, or, to use a nautical phrase, keeping stroke. 

 They had no other weapons but long poles ; and 

 were quite naked, with the exception of a banana 

 leaf cut into strips, and tied about their loins, and 

 one or two persons who wore white turbans. Their 

 timidity in approaching both the ship and the barge 

 was immediately apparent ; but they had no objec- 

 tion to any of the small boats ; which they were 

 probably aware they could, if necessary, easily upset 

 when within their reach ; and, indeed, it required 

 considerable caution to prevent such an occurrence, 

 not from any malicious intention on the part of the 

 natives, but from their thoughtlessness and inquisi- 

 tiveness. T approached them in the gig, and gave 

 them several presents, for which, they in return, 

 threw us some bundles of paste tied up in large 

 leaves. Not knowing at first what it was, I caught 

 it in my arms, and was overpowered with an odour 

 that made me drop it instantly. They made signs 

 that it was to be eaten, and we afterwards found it 

 was the common food of the natives. It was what 

 is called mahie at the Marquesas, but with a higher 

 gout than I ever heard that article possessed in those 

 islands, and very much resembled the first opening of 



