Visit on hoard of a Native. 587 



ened ever so little, we should liavc found ourselv.es in a 

 serious dilemma. Numbers of herons, white, black, and mot- 

 tled, were fishing in the shallow water along the edge of the 

 reefs, tlie sea-raven flew in vast flights among the lagoons, 

 while high overhead the graceful frigate-bird swept along, 

 every now and then darting rapidly down to secure his 

 booty. 



One of the whites whom we employed as our guide in the 

 island, accompanied us on board, and asked as his reward 

 some tobacco and clothes, with which he departed much 

 satisfied. In him, too, we observed a marked and quite 

 peculiar shyness, especially when on board the frigate. He 

 seemed as though he dreaded some avenging hand. His 

 glance was timid, his gait and motions betrayed a sense of 

 insecurity, and he might have readily been mistaken for some 

 repentant sinner, who in consequence of some evil deed had 

 fled from civilized society and sought out this distant asylum, 

 where he had scarcely to fear any other persecution than 

 that of his own conscience ! Hardly any spot, indeed, can 

 be named more suitable for thus expiating crime than this 

 remote island, where the white man, face to face with nature 

 in a new and unwonted aspect, and at the mercy of a savage 

 people, often deprived for months of the consolations and 

 support of civilization, finds in his solitude ample opportunity 

 to reflect upon the enormity of his guilt, and to mom^n over 

 his own evil fortune. 



As the west wind, which still blew, effectually prevented 



