332 SAVU ISLAND CHAP, xiv 



made us at once conclude that there were Europeans among 

 the islanders, by whom we should be received at least more 

 politely than we were used to be by uncivilised Indians. 



After a very short stay the lieutenant returned, bringing 

 word that he had seen Indians, in all respects, as colour, 

 dress, etc., much resembling the Malays; that they very 

 civilly invited him ashore, and conversed with him by signs, 

 but neither party could understand the other. They were 

 totally unarmed, except for the knives which they wore in 

 their girdles, and had with them a jackass, a sure sign that 

 Europeans had been among them. 



It was resolved to go to the lee side of the island in hopes 

 there to find anchoring ground ; in the meanwhile, however, 

 the boat with some truck was sent ashore at the cocoanut 

 grove, in hopes of purchasing some trifling refreshment for 

 the sick, in case we should be disappointed later on. Dr. 

 Solander went in it. Before it reached the shore we saw 

 two fresh horsemen, one of whom had on a complete European 

 dress, blue coat, white waistcoat, and laced hat ; these as the 

 boat lay ashore, seemed to take little notice of her, but only 

 sauntered about, looking much at the ship. Many more 

 horsemen, however, and still more footmen gathered round 

 our people, and we had the satisfaction of seeing several 

 cocoanuts brought into the boat, a sure sign that peace and 

 plenty reigned ashore. 



After a stay of an hour and a half the boat made a 

 signal of having had intelligence of a harbour to leeward, 

 and we in consequence bore away for it ; the boat following 

 soon came on board and told us that the people had behaved 

 in an uncommonly civil manner, that they had seen some of 

 their principal people, who were dressed in fine linen, and 

 had chains of gold round their necks, that they had not been 

 able to trade, the owner of the cocoanut trees not being 

 there, but had got about two dozen cocoanuts given as a 

 present by these principal people who accepted linen in 

 return, and made them understand by drawing a map upon 

 the sand, that on the lee side of the island was a bay in 

 which we might anchor near a town and buy sheep, hogs, 



