TO IIADACK. 53 



for the first time, in the inhabited part of the 

 group. A boat under sail came to visit us, and 

 one of Rarick's companions, whom I immediately 

 recognised, presented me with some cocoa nuts, 

 repeatedly exclaiming Rarick ! Totabu! Aidara! 

 His joy was increased, on my giving him some 

 iron; but neither he nor his companion would 

 venture on board, though we begged them very 

 much. I had a boat got ready, that our naturalists 

 might have an opportunity of examining the island, 

 and the savages immediately sailed off with them. 

 I intended to remain in the anchoring-place for 

 to-morrow, to be able to determine it more ex- 

 actly by astronomical observations. This place is 

 twenty miles from Christmas Harbour, in a straight 

 line. In the evening, the gentlemen^ returned, 

 very much pleased at the friendly reception of the 

 islanders, of whom they saw about thirty ; an old 

 man, who, to judge from his ornaments, was a 

 chief, had offered M. Chamisso, as a proof of his 

 good intentions, a meal, made of a mixture of 

 pressed pandanus and bread-fruit, which did not 

 taste amiss j the others had collected round the 

 white men, whom they regarded with much aston- 

 ishment. 



When we inquired for Rarick, they pointed to 

 the S. E. ; consequently he resided there, and we 

 might hope that we should meet with more inhabit- 

 ants than we had hitherto done. We learnt that they 



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