ALARM OF THE NATIVES. 109 
came perceptible with the naked eye. A tall, 
strong, dark-coloured race of naked savages 
were assembling on the shore, gazing on the 
ship in great agitation, with gestures of asto- 
nishment. Some were arming with long 
spears and clubs, others kindling piles of wood, 
probably, that the smoke might be a signal to 
neighbouring islands of their requiring assist- 
ance against the unknown sea-monster. From 
pretty huts of plaited reeds, under the shade 
of bread-fruit trees, the women, some of them 
with children in their arms, were flying to con- 
ceal themselves in the forest. Such was the 
commotion our appearance occasioned in this 
little community. A few heroes summoned 
courage enough to advance, with threatening 
attitudes, to the margin of the shore; but no 
single canoe, though many lay on the coast, 
ventured to apprvach us. Judging from their 
size and the good arrangement of their sails, 
these canoes seem intended for visits to other 
and even distant islands. We sailed quite 
round our new discovery without finding any 
hayen by which we could effect a landing; and 
the sea being tempestuous, with a high and 
