76 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



ing ; only a very few times, during our stay there, 

 we saw the people on the reefs, angling for a 

 species of small fish. A cock and a hen, the only 

 remains of our poultry, I made a present of to 

 Lagediack, whose joy compensated us for the loss 

 of a dish. 



The 24th of January. To-day, the forge was 

 put up on land, as several iron articles required 

 repair. The novelty of the scene attracted all the 

 inhabitants, who beheld with astonishment the 

 setting up of the machine ; but, when the bellows 

 began to work, the coals glowed, and the hammered 

 iron threw out fiery sparks, the men seized their 

 wives, the women their children, and all fled. Lage- 

 diack was the first to be convinced of his ground- 

 less fear ; and, to make him acquainted with the 

 use of the forge, a handsome harpoon was made 

 on the spot, of which I made him a present, and 

 caused him the most indescribable pleasure. Hold- 

 ing the harpoon over his head, he called with a 

 loud voice to his comrades, who, encouraged by 

 his example, came again together. I had another 

 harpoon made in their presence for Rarick, and 

 some fishing-hooks for my favourites, and their 

 attachment increased in proportion, as every new 

 specimen of our skill raised us in their eyes. As 

 some days would elapse before the labours of the 

 forge could be concluded, I left it on shore, under 

 the care of the smith ; and Lagediack promised 

 to guard against any thing being stolen in the 



