PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 233 



Thus refreshed, they again worked at their pad- ^mf' 

 dies or spread their sail, and were not long before ^—-v*- 

 their exertions were repaid with the joyful sight of 18 2 6 '. 

 land, on which clusters of cocoa-nuts crowned the 

 heads of several tufts of palm-trees : they hurried 

 through the surf and soon reached the much wished 

 for spot, but being too feeble to ascend the lofty 

 trees, they were obliged to fell one of them with 

 an axe. 



On traversing the island to which Providence had 

 thus conducted them, they discovered by several 

 canoes in the lagoon, and pathways intersecting the 

 woods, that it had been previously inhabited ; and 

 knowing the greater part of the natives of the low 

 islands to be cannibals, they determined to remain no 

 longer upon it than was absolutely necessary to re- 

 cruit their strength, imagining that the islanders, 

 when they did return, would not rest satisfied with 

 merely dispossessing them of their asylum. 



It was necessary, while they were allowed to re- 

 main, to seek shelter from the weather and to exert 

 themselves in procuring a supply of provision for 

 their further voyage ; huts were consequently built, 

 pools dug for water, and three canoes added to those 

 which were found in the lake. Their situation by 

 these means was rendered tolerably comfortable, and 

 they not only provided themselves with necessaries 

 sufficient for their daily consumption, but were able 

 to dry and lay by a considerable quantity offish for 

 sea stock. 



After a time, finding themselves undisturbed, they 

 gained confidence, and deferred their departure till 

 thirteen months had elapsed from the time of their 

 landing. At the expiration of which period, being 

 ingood bodily health and supplied with every re- 



