1780. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 409 



country, interspersed with cultivated spots of rice 

 and tobacco, and groves of cabbage palm-trees, and 

 cocoa-nut trees. We here spied two huts situated 

 on the edge of the wood, to which we directed our 

 course ; and before we came up to them were descried 

 by two men, who immediately ran away from us, 

 notwithstanding all the peaceable and supplicating 

 gestures we could devise. 



On reaching the huts I ordered the party to stay 

 without, lest the sight of so many armed men should 

 terrify the inhabitants, whilst I entered and recon- 

 noitred alone. I found in one of the huts an elderly 

 man who was in a great fright, and preparing to 

 make off with the most valuable of his effects that he 

 could carry. However, 1 was fortunate enough, in 

 a very little time, so entirely to dispel his fears, that 

 he came out and called to the two men who were 

 running away to return. The old man and I now 

 soon came to a perfect understanding. A few signs, 

 particularly that most significant one of holding out 

 a handful of dollars, and then pointing to a herd of 

 buffaloes, and the fowls that were running about the 

 huts in great numbers, left him without any doubts 

 as to the real objects of our visit. He pointed to- 

 ward a place where the town stood, and made us 

 comprehend that, by going thither, all our wants 

 would be supplied. By this time the young men 

 who had fled were returned, and the old man ordered 

 one of them to conduct us to the town as soon as an 

 obstacle should be removed, of which we were not 

 aware. On our first coming out of the wood, a herd 

 of buffaloes, to the number of twenty at least, came 

 running toward us, tossing up their heads, snuffing the 

 air, and roaring in a hideous manner. They had 

 followed us to the huts, and stood drawn up in a 

 body at a little distance ; and the old man made us 

 understand that it would be exceedingly dangerous 

 for us to move till they were driven into the woods j 

 but so enraged were the animals grown at the sight 

 of us, that this was not effected without a good deal 



