TO RADACK 47 



up a tolerably high tree, and saw land to the soutli- 

 east, by which I was confirmed in my supposition 

 that we were in a circle of islands. To the 

 N. E. 1|- mile distant from us, lay a small island, 

 which appeared higher than any I had hitherto 

 seen. After dinner, the sentinels informed us that 

 they had seen three men, who were coming from 

 the westward along the reef; they were favoured 

 in this walk by the tide; and though the water is 

 so deep in some places, that they are obliged to 

 wade through it, the inhabitants, however, make 

 use of this way, with as much confidence, as we do 

 of our roads. By means of a telescope, I recognized 

 Rarick, and his companions ; they soon came up, 

 unarmed, and were very happy to see us again. 

 My friend was again uncommonly talkative ; and 

 though I did not understand a word at first, yet 

 liis eloquence furnished us at length with a store 

 of expressions, which we wrote down, when we 

 thought that we had understood them ; thus we 

 learnt that a man is called Mamiany and a woman 

 Redgini * ; Tamon signifies a leader ; and such a 

 one was Rarick over the whole group of islands. 

 With inconceivable vivacity, he addressed himself 

 to me, and no body could undertstand him ; at 

 length he named his companions, then himself, 

 and as he then looked at me with an air of inquiry, 

 we guessed that he wanted to know my name. 



* The gi is pronounced as in French. 



