274 FROM GUAHON TO ST. HELENA. 



dyed black, gave them an ugly appearance. Their 

 heads were covered with large straw hats, of the 

 Chinese shape, and their dress consisted of old 

 nankeen shirts, from which I concluded that they 

 had much intercourse with Europeans. The boat 

 was the trunk of a tree hollowed out, and pro- 

 videci with an out-rigger. In an hour the islanders 

 returned witli an enormous large turtle, which they 

 laid on the back, and tied across the boat ; two 

 monkeys and several parrots were sitting on its 

 belly. The one to whom I threw the knife gave 

 us to understand that the turtle, which he called 

 Curpat^ should be drawn up into the ship with a 

 rope, and two sailors could scarcely drag up this 

 prodigious animal, on the flesh of which the whole 

 crew lived two days. When the turtle was on 

 board, which I received as a return for the knife, 

 the half-naked islander himself came on board 

 the Rurick, with a small bundle in his hand ; with- 

 out saying a word, or making any motion indicat- 

 ing a salute, he sat down on the quarter-deck, and 

 untied his bundle. We all looked with surprise 

 for the treasures he was about to produce, when 

 he pulled out a pair of very old silk small clothes, 

 embroidered with gold, which he put on without 

 any ceremony. After having finished his toilette, 

 he assumed an important air, gave me to under- 

 stand that he gave me the large turtle, frequently 

 repeating the word, Present. I observed that 

 he wished to have presents, and gave him beads. 



