Russian Expedition to Japan. 7 



tied round his middle, and was tatoocd on the breast. The 

 canoe rowed past the ship, and the men addressed to us a 

 kind of speech. The index finger of" their right hand was 

 always stretched out, and they moved it towards us ncarly 

 in the same manner as when a person threatens. Mr. Ko- 

 berts, for such was the Englishman's name, infonned us 

 that this motion was an assurance of friendship. 



At length one of the natives in the canoe took courao^e 

 and clambered up the side of the ship : he was the kincr's 

 brother. He was exceedingly timid : sat down at the Eno;- 

 lishman's feet, grasped one of his legs, looked round with 

 great fear, and pressed his face, as if ashamed, against llie 

 back part of the Englishman's thigh. He was followed by 

 another. We endeavoured to inspire him w ith courage ; 

 patted hin), and called him our tai/o. We firmly believed 

 that this word signified friend ; but this is not the case. 

 M. Fleurieu, the editor of Marchand's Voyage, must there- 

 fore pardon me for suspecting that he copied the followinci- 

 passage, — Fans etes nos amis, et vous nous tuez, from Bou- 

 gainville. Their attention was much attracted by our fowls, 

 and some small papajays from Brazil : they squatted down 

 before them and stared at them with their mouths wide 

 opexi.. These people have limbs remarkably pliable. Very 

 old men will often sit down on the ground without ever 

 assisting themselves in the least with their hands. Thev 

 do not stretch out their legs when they sit, but squat down 

 with their knees bent like young children. This may be in 

 some measure owing to the frequent use of coco-nut oil, 

 ^vith which tlicy be^^niear their skin to keep it soft and 

 pliable. 



Towards noon wt came to anchor in Anna Maria Bay, at 

 the distance of about a verst from the nearest shore ; which, 

 however, was only a barren rock. The shore on the other 

 side, which was about two vcrsts distant, was covered with 

 beautiful trees, and exhibited a most charming prospect, 

 especially to people who for thirteen weeks had not seen 

 land; for the view of Cape St.. John scarcely deserves to 

 be mentioned. We now taw two groups which had the 

 appearance of water fowl, not far frou) the inhabited part 

 of the coast. As they approached us we perceived them 

 to be natives ; and among them were some small children, 

 who Bomelimes laid liold of their stronger neighl)ours with 

 one hand, again let them go, and continued swimming 

 alone. They surrounded the sliip, and their number gra- 

 dually increased till the whole place swarmed with /hem. 

 'I'licy seemed highly gratified, kept conliuu^llv U^ighiiig, 

 A 4 " iuui 



