17^9. ROUND THE WORLD. l63 



When we left this place, the chief, Mathiabo, de- 

 sired leave to accompany us, which was readily 

 granted. He continued with us the remainder of the 

 day, and proved very useful, by piloting us over the 

 shoals. In the evening, we opened the bay on the 

 north-west side of the island, which answered to that 

 on the south-east, so as at the isthmus, or carrying 

 place, almost to intersect the island, as I have ob- 

 served before ; and when we had coasted about two- 

 thirds of it, we determined to go on shore for the 

 night. We saw a large house at some distance, 

 which Mathiabo informed us belonged to one of 

 his friends ; and soon after several canoes came off to 

 meet us, having on board some very handsome wo- 

 men, who, by their behaviour, seemed to have been 

 sent to entice us on shore. As we had before re- 

 solved to take up our residence here for the night, 

 little invitation was necessary. We found that the 

 house belonged to the chief of the district, whose 

 name was Wiverou : he received us in a very friendly 

 manner, and ordered his people to assist us in dress- 

 ing our provision, of which we had now got a toler- 

 able stock. When our supper was ready, we were 

 conducted into that part of the house where Wiverou 

 was sitting, in order to eat it : Mathiabo supped with 

 us ; and Wiverou calling for his supper at the same 

 time, we ate our meal very sociably, and with great 

 good humour. When it was over, we began to en- 

 quire where we were to sleep, and a part of the house 

 was shown us, of which we were told we might take 

 possession for that purpose. We then sent for our 

 cloaks, and Mr. Banks began to undress, as his cus- 

 tom was, and, with a precaution which he had been 

 taught by the loss of the jackets at Atahourou, sent 

 his clothes aboard the boat, proposing to cover him- 

 self with a piece of Indian cloth. When Mathiabo 

 perceived what was doing, he also pretended to want 

 a cloak ; and, as he had behaved very well, and done 

 us some service, a cloak w^as ordered for him. We 



M 2 



