First SalutatiouH of the Naiioes. ly 



The few fruits which have been throTNTi up, or been carried 

 hither, probably from some distant shore, have struck root in 

 this coral sand, and a coronal of luxuriant palms, with their 

 slim stems, and loaded with thousands of nuts, serves as food 

 for man. 



In the vicinity of the spot where we disembarked was an- 

 cliored a barque from Moulmein, with a Malay crew, the ma- 

 jority of whom were tatooed on the thigh with extraordinary 

 skill. They had been for a considerable period taking in a cargo 

 of cocoa-nuts, which the natives had been exchanging against 

 various merchandise. About thirty dusky natives, almost 

 entirely naked, and for the most part without any head cover- 

 ing beyond the splendid raven locks which hung down over 

 their shoulders, some carrying in their hands cutlasses, 

 others long wooden lances tij^ped with bone, stood near the 

 beach, and while we were yet a little distance off, called out to 

 us in broken English, and with visible anxiety, ^' Good 

 friend ? No fear ! " apparently anxious, in the first place, to 

 have confirmation from us that we were really '' good friends," 

 and that they had nothing to dread, before they ventured 

 quite close to us. Wlien they were no more than twenty 

 paces distant, they suddenly came to a halt, upon which some 

 of theii' number, who appeared to be chiefs, gave their spears 

 and cutlasses to those around, and advanced to us with a tolera- 

 bly friendly air, at the same time stretching out their hands 

 by way of salutation. They were for the most part large, 

 well-proportioned men, of a dark bronze colour of skin. 



VOL. n- 



