140 FROM CONCEPTION BAY 



remained. The distrustful behaviour of the 

 islanders, led me to think that some Europeans 

 had had a quarrel with them, and revenged them- 

 selves by destroying the statues. It struck me, as 

 something very singular, that in all this bustle on 

 shore, and in the water, we did not see a single 

 woman, of whose importunity preceding voyagers 

 have so often complained. This observation con- 

 firmed me in my opinion, that the Europeans must 

 lately have committed many excesses here. After 

 I had fully convinced myself, that these islanders 

 would not allow us to enter their country, 

 we tried to retreat to our boats, which, besides, 

 were insecure in the surf; but even now we were 

 obliged to protect ourselves from their importunity 

 by several musket-shots ; and it was not till they 

 heard the balls hiss about their ears that they left 

 us at peace. We gave them some more iron, and 

 then hastened back to the Rurick, as our stay, un- 

 der such circumstances, would only be loss of time, 

 and every hour was valuable to me. The inha- 

 bitants seem to be all of a middle stature, but well 

 made ; mostly of a copper colour, very few being 

 tolerably white. They are all tattooed ; and those 

 who are so over the whole body, have the appear- 

 ance of chiefs. We saw here the stuff made of 

 the bark of trees, which is manufactured in most 

 of the South Sea islands, for some of the men wear 

 short cloaks of it ; and the women, who stood at a 

 great distance, were entirely wrapped in it. To 



