Singular appearance of Watch-Fires on Malay ta. 599 



years old. None of them were tattooed, but the practice 

 of anointing the body and the want of cleanliness left 

 many coloured marks upon the skin. One of the lads had 

 a sort of scaly eruption all over his skin. Beyond the 

 pieces of tortoise-shell already mentioned, and the orna- 

 ments they wore upon their bodies, they had absolutely 

 nothing in their boats, not even fruit or other natm'al 

 products. They rowed a considerable distance after empty 

 bottles which were pitched into the sea, and one of them 

 seemed to attach such importance to the possession of these, 

 that he plunged into the water to swim after them, and thus 

 secure them the more readily. 



Unfortunately our intercourse with these islanders of the 

 Solomon group was confined to the little episode above related, 

 and as a favourable breeze once more sprang up, we soon lost 

 sight of these simple savages and their island. On this occa- 

 sion the members of the Expedition were unanimously of 

 opinion (which is not always the case in matters of personal 

 impressions), that the inhabitants of Malayta were the wildest, 

 most uncivilized race of men we had as yet encountered in 

 our voyaging to and fro round the globe. 



During the night numerous watch-fires were visible on the 

 peaks of the island. Were they lit for the protection of the 

 slumbering inhabitants against the cold and damp of the night, 

 or were they alarm signals for the entire population of the is- 

 land, warning them against dangers that menaced them ? If 

 any apprehensions were entertained by the natives of Malayta 



