THEIR MODEST BEHAVIOUR. 269 
purchases were carried on with much gaiety 
and laughter on both sides. They gave us 
their fish, waited quietly for what we gave them 
in return, and were perfectly satisfied with their 
barter. 
Their attention was strongly attracted to 
the ship. They examined her closely from the 
hold to the mast-head, and made many animated 
remarks to each other on what they saw. If 
they observed any manceuvres with the sails or 
tackle, they pointed with their fingers towards 
the spot, and appeared to watch with the most 
eager curiosity the effect produced. 
It was evident that this people, sailors by 
birth, took a lively interest in whatever related 
to navigation. Their modest behaviour con- 
trasted so strikingly with the impudent impor- 
tunity of the inhabitants of Maouna, that we 
should have been inclined to consider them of a 
different race, but for their exact resemblance 
in every other particular, even in the dressing of 
their hair, though this was even more elaborately 
performed — an attention to appearance which 
is curious enough, when compared with the dirty, 
uncombed locks of European fishermen; but 
