22 ^^oijage of the Novara. 



the forest trees, we judged it much the better course to en- 

 deavour first of all to make the natives more confiding, and 

 for that purpose invited them to accompany us on board. 

 Eight of their number were finally induced to follow us, and 

 came alongside in their elegant canoes, formed of the wood 

 of the Calophijllum mojpliylliim, one of the most splendid trees 

 of the primeval forest of the islands. As soon as we reached 

 the fi:-igate, only a single one, Captain Dickson, could be in- 

 duced to clamber up of the man-ropes ; the rest did not venture 

 to leave their canoes, and one, who called himself Captain 

 Charlie, a short, lank little fellow of boyish appearance, who 

 for'all apparel wore a dirty cloth cap on his head, trembled 

 with terror through his whole frame when he saw our big 

 guns. Captain Dickson, too, did not seem to feel himself 

 altogether comfortable while on board, and although there 

 was much to excite his curiosity, he soon longed to get out of 

 the large ship, back again into his own frail skiff. Quite 

 peculiar was the impression made upon him by a pair of live 

 cows ; such large animals he gave us to understand were not 

 found upon his island. 



Meanwhile a number of natives had approached the frigate 

 in their canoes, bringing swine, fowls, plantains, yams, and 

 eggs in hollowed-out cocoa-nut shells, which they offered as 

 presents, but at the same time inquu-ed what we intended 

 giving them in return. They greatly wished for biscuit, 

 brandy, medicines, clothes, but above all else for black hats, 

 which most probably results from their having occasionally 



