24 . GOVERNMENT. 



little except that she was American, and Avas named "Superior." 

 The captain, whose name the natives pronounced " Hoody," was 

 carried away into the interior of the island and killed, and the 

 scene of his\nurder was once pointed out to Lieutenant Oldham 

 when crossincr the island. As Captain Simpson charges the natives 

 with cannibaHsm, there can be little doubt of the ultimate fate of 

 the crew .>f the American barque. In the interval between the 

 occurrence of this event and the arrival of the " Blanche," no vessel 

 had anchored in the harbour, the ships always heaving-to off the 

 north coast, where the natives resided when Captain Simpson 

 visited the island. Treasury retained its bad reputation up to 

 the date of cur visit; and but few traders had much knowledge 

 of the place, as they generally gave the island a Avide berth. 

 We met but one man who spoke well of these natives, and he was 

 Captain Walsch of the trading schooner "Venture." All others 

 crave them the worst of characters : and led me to believe that my 

 acquaintance with Treasury would not extend beyond the deck of 

 H.M.S. " Lark." When Lieutenant Oldham first visited this island 

 in May, 1882, he had every reason to place but little confidence in 

 the natives ; and in truth we all thought that the appearance and 

 behaviour of the natives justified the treacherous reputation which 

 they had obtained. Only two days were spent there, but no land- 

 ing was effected : the chief made no response to the invitations to 

 visit the ship ; and we left the harbour without much feeling of 

 rea'ret. Li June of the following year we aofain visited this island : 

 and if the same ]irocedure had been followed we should have been 

 a very long time in gaining the confidence of the natives. Lieu- 

 tenant Oldham, however, paid an official visit to the chief, accom- 

 panied by Lieutenant Malan and myself. Mule and one of his sons 

 returned the visit within a couple of hours. Presents were ex- 

 changed ; and the foundation of mutual confidence was thus laid. 

 The result may be briefly stated. In a few da3^s I was rambling all 

 over the island, iisually accompanied by a lively gathering of men 

 and boys. An intimacy was established with the natives, which 

 lasted until we bade farevv^l to the group in the following year ; 

 and the return of tiie " Lark " from her cruises was always a cause 

 of rejoicing amongst the natives. The men of the ship were known 

 by name to most of the people of the island : whilst Mr. Isabell, our 

 leading-stoker, made a deep impression upon them by his readiness 

 to employ his mochanical skill for their various wants, so much so 



