152 VOYAGE TO THE 



CH ^ P - our purpose, and so situated that the ship could, if 

 ^^r^ necessary, be placed near enough to cover the parties 

 i J 8 a 2 n 6. sent to procure it. This gratifying discovery was of 

 the greatest importance, and the ship was imme- 

 diately removed to a convenient spot opposite the 

 place. 



We were late getting across the lagoon from our 

 first anchorage, in consequence of the necessity of 

 proceeding with the utmost caution to prevent 

 striking upon rocks of coral, which were nume- 

 rous, and in some instances rose from twenty- 

 eight fathoms to within twelve feet of the surface ; 

 so that it was dark before the sails were furled, and 

 we had no communication with the natives that 

 night. One man only, probably by way of ascer- 

 taining whether we kept watch, paddled silently off 

 upon a small katamaran ; but on being hailed, went 

 quietly away. At daylight, the shore opposite the 

 ship was lined with the natives, and katamarans 

 commenced coming off to her laden with visiters, 

 who, encouraged by their former reception, fear- 

 lessly ascended the side, and in a short time so 

 crowded the decks, that the necessary duties of the 

 crew were suspended. Their surprise was, if pos- 

 sible, greater than that of the other islanders ; but 

 it did not appear to be excited by any particular 

 object. 



It is said that as a people become civilized, their 

 curiosity increases. Here, however, it was excited 

 more from a desire to ascertain what was capable of 

 being pilfered than from any thirst for knowledge. 

 Through this propensity, every thing underwent a 

 rigid examination. We had taken the precaution 

 to put all the moveable articles that could be spared 



