Of LA FERDUS2. 2"?^ 



bay, thfc ftiores of which appeared Very much 

 peopled; we remarked there feveral Iheds, 

 under which the inhabitants had hauled up 

 their canoes, to ilielter them from the incle- 

 mency of the weather; and on all fides were 

 fccn huts, even near the top of the moft lofty 

 mountains. 



In a little time the favages put five canoes 

 into the water, and approached us. They all 

 kept juft within hail except one, who, fitting in 

 a catamaran, advanced much nearer the flern 

 of our fhip, in order to receive fome bits of 

 red cloth, which we threw overboard. His 

 mahncr befpoke the greatefl miflruft ; he kept 

 his eyes fixed on us ; not one of our motions 

 efcaped him, and yet he had theaddrefs not to 

 mifs any of the articles we threw W him. Pre- 

 fently, at his call, the other canoes approached. 

 The fight which this native afforded us, felted 

 on fome planks toffed about by the fea, amufed 

 us for a few moments. Our fiddler wilhed to 

 treat thefe iflanders with fome tunes on the 

 violin, but at the moment when he was putting 

 his inftrument in tunc, they went away tovvards 

 the Efperance. 



Shortly after, five other canoes came along- 

 fide, fhewing us the greatefl confidence. The 

 natives who were in them were doubtlefs ac- 

 quainted with the vife of iron, for rhey mani- 

 T 7 fefled 



