TO RADACK. &^ 



who started back with surprise at the ticking of it ; 

 they all listened to it, the gold gave them much 

 pleasure, and the motion of the second-hand 

 astonished them very much ; but when I made the 

 watch repeat, my conjuration almost terrified them; 

 they retired, and long and seriously discussed this 

 important subject, till I enticed them to me by 

 some presents. It was now their turn to give 

 me presents ; the women gave me their elegantly 

 wrought shell-wreaths, which they took off their 

 heads and placed on mine ; the men took off their 

 necklaces, laboriously made of red coral, and gave 

 them to me ; the old man gave me a pretty large 

 mat, giving me to understand that I might sleep 

 on it; and, at last, the men and'women joined in a 

 song which was addressed to me, and probably 

 expressed their gratitude. On a tour which I 

 made through the island, several of them accom- 

 panied me, and one went on before to show me 

 the best way. I was unarmed, for I felt myself 

 quite secure among these kind-hearted children of 

 nature, who, to amuse me, would play and dance 

 on before me. This island appeared to me to be 

 older than any we had seen ; I saw here pandanus 

 and bread-fruit trees of uncommon height and thick- 

 ness ; the cocoa tree is met with but seldom, and 

 generally only just planted. Near the houses 1 

 observed a plant with beautiful blossoms which 

 they cultivate merely to adorn themselves with the 

 flowers ; and this trait alone proves that this people 

 are not entirely in so rude a state as the other 



