THE CAUSE OF COXFUSIOX. 189" 



to complete a nest. During the N.E. trade-wind 

 they are all alive and fly about briskly ; but as soon 

 as the wind eomes round to the S.W., they sit or 

 lie in their nests in a state of stupor, and show 

 animation only by a kind of tremulous motion over 

 their whole body. If their nests were taken away 

 at that season, the poor birds must inevitably 

 perish." 



These birds' nests were the occasion, incidentally, 

 of no small trouble and danger to the missionaries. 

 They brought a great number, both of Malays and 

 Chinese, to the coasts in search of them. These 

 marauders always caused much confusion and quar- 

 relling among the otherwise peaceable islanders, by 

 their knavery and frequent assassinations ; and on 

 one occasion, having conceived a grudge against 

 Mr Haensel, who, having been appointed temporary 

 president for the King of Denmark, considered it 

 his duty to protest against a robbery they wanted 

 to commit. They threatened to have their revenge 

 by killing him, and the natives, who knew them 

 well, said they would be as good as their word. 

 These poor people, though unimpressed by the re- 

 ligious teaching of the Brethren, were gratefully 

 attached to them for all their kindness, and offered 

 to stay at night and defend them ; but not apparently 

 sharing in the alarm, Haensel dismissed them to 

 their own homes, and the mission family prepared 



