THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS. 131 



in fact, conducted himself with as much propriety 

 and good manners as if he had long associated with 

 civilized people. Our gentlemen treated him with 

 so much kindness that he soon became very much 

 attached to them, and they likewise were happy 

 to have him about them, on account of his good 

 qualities. I cherished the hope that when we had 

 learnt better to understand each other, I should 

 obtain from him much information, as well re- 

 specting the Carolinas, as the newly-discovered 

 groups of islands. 



The 26th of February, the whole day the Rurick 

 was surrounded by savages who were acquainted 

 with our intention of leaving them to-morrow, and 

 bartered a great number of cocoa-nuts for iron. 

 In the afternoon the Tamons brought us consider- 

 able presents of mogan and cocoa-nuts. They 

 regretted our departure exceedingly, and learnt, 

 on their inquiry, that I was going to visit their 

 great Tamon in Ailu and Udirick, as was in fact 

 my intention. As soon as I was alone with my 

 guests in the cabin, they examined very carefully 

 whether anybody could overhear us; they entreated, 

 with an air of mystery, but very earnestly, that I 

 would remain here till their military force w^as 

 assembled, to kill with them all the inhabitants of 

 Mediuro, and then, laden with cocoa-nuts and 

 bread-fruit, return to Aur ; they would give me 

 for it an Eb every day. This proof of their con- 

 fidence astonished me, but willingly as I would 



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