SKILFUL DIVERS. 233 



the ship was bottomed had become loose, and 

 the hull thereby liable to injury from worms. 

 To repair this damage in the ordinary way, the 

 laborious task of unlading and keel-hauling 

 must have been undertaken ; but our noble 

 friend, on hearing of our difficulties, put us upon 

 an easier method of managing the business. He 

 sent me three very clever divers, who worked 

 under the water, and fastened new plates of 

 copper on the hull, two of them provided with 

 hammers to drive in the nails, while the third 

 held the materials. We found that these men 

 could remain at work forty-eight seconds at a 

 time. When they emerged, their eyes were 

 always red and starting ; the effect of the violent 

 strain upon the optic nerve which the use of the 

 sight under water produces. We had some 

 skilful divers among our own sailors, who, 

 although they could not have attempted this 

 work, were able to inspect what was done by the 

 Wahuaners, and to report that it was properly 

 executed. 



Some days after Karemaku^s arrival, came an 

 ambassador from Nomahanna, with instructions 

 to demand an audience of me. I received him 



