Mustard seed fired at the natives. 



PAUMOTU GROUP. 



Longitude of Clermont de Tonnerre. 

 Beechey in error. Serle Island. 



65 



at Tahiti, where he said he was married. At times 

 it was difficult to control John's movements. On 

 this occasion he soon became provoked at the 

 chief's obstinacy; and the idea of their receiving all 

 our presents so greedily without even thanks in 

 return, excited his native fire ; his eyes shone 

 fiercely, and his whole frame seemed agitated. 

 Half naked as he was, his tattooing conspicuous, he 

 stood in the bow of the boat brandishing his boat- 

 hook like a spear, with the dexterity of a savage. 

 It was difficult to recognize the sailor in the fierce 

 majestic-looking warrior before us. The chief and 

 John kept passing words until both were becoming 

 vociferous, the one appearing as savage as the 

 other. John's animated attitudes and gestures 

 were the admiration of all. As we could not un- 

 derstand him, he may have said many things to 

 irritate the savage chief before he could be silenced, 

 although he afterwards declared his innocence in 

 that respect. I had been engaged for upwards of 

 an hour endeavouring to overcome their fears, 

 when I was joined by several boats from the 

 other vessels. The officers being anxious to have 

 communication with the natives, were desirous of 

 landing, and I readily gave them permission to do 

 so without arms. They passed a short distance 

 from us, hoping to effect their purpose without 

 opposition; but the natives separated, in order to 

 oppose any landing. One or two officers swam 

 through the snrf without arms, and were boldly 

 set upon by three of the natives, when they made 

 a hurried retreat. This evidently gave the natives 

 confidence, and their conduct became more violent. 

 Mr. Couthouy requested permission to land with 

 presents, under the protection of the boat, to 

 which I consented. He swam on shore, pausing 

 now and then, for the purpose of showing the trin- 

 kets. The chief motioned him away, but he landed 

 on the rocks. The chief retiring, appeared as if 

 somewhat alarmed, while Mr. Couthouy advanced 

 towards him, holding out the presents. On being 

 joined by another native the chief stopped, raised 

 his spear, and with a shout and distortion of coun- 

 tenance, made a pass at Mr. Couthouy, who at 

 once dropped looking-glasses, trinkets, &c., at his 

 feet, and quickly made for the boat. The savage 

 took no notice of the relinquished offerings, but 

 advanced to attack him with his spear. When 

 he had reached the edge of the surf, the chief 

 made another thrust at him, but fortunately with- 

 out injury. This precipitate retreat gave them 

 still more confidence ; they now began throwing 

 pieces of coral, numbers of which struck the men 

 in my boat. I felt no disposition to do them harm, 

 and yet I had no idea of letting them see and feel 

 that they had driven us off without landing, well 

 knowing, however, if a forcible landing took place, 

 and they made resistance, that injury would befall 

 one side, and probably both. I, therefore, thinking 

 that they had no idea of fire-arms, ordered several 

 blank cartridges to be fired ; but they took no 

 notice of them*. According to John Sac, they 

 hooted at these arms, calling us cowards, and 

 daring us to come on shore. I then fired a small 

 charge of mustard-seed shot at their legs, which did 



* I have since understood, however, that the poor natives 

 have been fired upon by trading vessels engaged in the 

 pearl-fishery, in mere wantonness, which will account for 

 their hostile reception of us. 



not produce any effect. Then Mr. Peale, who was 

 near by me, was requested to draw his ball, and 

 load with mustard-seed, which he did ; and Lieu- 

 tenant North likewise fired, which caused the 

 chief and all the rest to retreat, rubbing their 

 legs. The officers were now permitted to laud, 

 under strict injunctions, in order to avoid all con- 

 tact with the natives, not to leave the beach. So 

 much time had been lost before I could get the 

 instruments safely on shore, that I found it too 

 late to make the observations I desired. 



The natives whom we saw appeared a fine athletic 

 race, much above the ordinary size. Their colour 

 was darker than that of our Indians, but their 

 features resembled them. No tattooing was ob- 

 served on the men, and the women were not seen 

 close enough to distinguish them. The hair of the 

 former was long, black, and straight. The chiefs 

 had theirs drawn back, and tied in a knot behind; 

 the others had theirs hanging loose. They wore 

 a small maro made of leaves, and the chiefs a 

 pandanus leaf around their necks, probably to dis- 

 tinguish their rank. The women wore a piece of 

 tapa as a petticoat ; they were not oiled, and the 

 heads of some seemed filled with ashes or lime. 

 They spoke and understood the Tahitian dialect. 

 The only information obtained from them was, 

 that vessels had before been there, but had gone 

 away without landing. 



Immediately on their being driven from the 

 beach, a large column of smoke was seen, no doubt 

 a signal to the other inhabitants of the island. 

 After being on the reef half an hour, we joined 

 our boats, and returned on board near sunset. One 

 canoe was reported the next morning, as having 

 been seen from the Peacock. 



The number of inhabitants that we saw certainly 

 did not exceed one hundred and twenty. 



The common house-fly was found in great num- 

 bers at this island. A number of fish were caught; 

 some shells, and specimens of most of the plants, 

 were also procured. 



After lying-to for the night, we, at daylight on 

 the 16th, bore away for Serle Island, having first 

 ascertained our distance from the point of Cler- 

 mont de Tonnerre by triangulation. We then ran 

 by the patent log for Serle Island direct, by which 

 means we made the distance between the two 

 islands, twenty-six miles and two-tenths. No signs 

 of any other island exist between these two. This 

 will, I think, settle the question between Duperrey 

 and Beechey. The latter is undoubtedly wrong as 

 respects the longitude of Clermont de Tonnerre, 

 which he places some twenty minutes too far to 

 the eastward, and, I doubt not, some accidental 

 error has occurred in his observations; for I find, 

 at Serle Island, Duperrey, Beechey, and myself, 

 agree within a few minutes. 



Serle is a low coral island, and has a large and 

 very regular clump of trees on its western end, 

 which, at a distance, might be taken for a mound 

 or hill. Its length is seven miles, and its width one 

 and a fourth. It lies in a north-west and south- 

 east direction. There are but few inhabitants on 

 it. The position of its south-east end is in latitude 

 18 21' 10" S., longitude 137 4' 10" W. 



The vessels again separated for its survey; boats 

 were sent to trace the reef, and have commu- 

 nication with the natives, if possible. Before night 

 we had completed our survey, and the boats re- 



F 



