220 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
cut ‘the painter, and I would pick them up afterward. I 
also told the men in the launch that if they did succeed in 
getting the whaleboat, I would run her down. This may 
appear to be strong talk, but the occasion was a critical one, 
and made decided action very necessary. 
“After this we kept on our course, but in deference to 
their fears, I resolved to compromise matters and not to 
stop at Matupit except just to land Toporapora and his 
crew. This we did, steaming close to the island, and for 
a considerable distance round it, without seeing the slight- 
est signs of hostility. The only suspicious circumstance I 
noticed was that no canoes came off. Whether they would 
have come had we anchored or waited long enough, I can- 
not tell. 
“After leaving Matupit we steamed right across Simpson 
Harbor. All the natives were sulky except one or two, and 
regaled me with tales of the ferocity and cannibalism of the 
people whose villages we were so rapidly nearing. They 
told us of four Meoko men being killed and eaten a short 
time ago by the people right ahead... . 
“All the way across I reasoned this matter over and over 
in my own mind. I could not help feeling anxious after 
hearing all these tales, but still, after calm and prayerful 
consideration, I felt that I was justified in the action I was 
taking. I was well aware that there was some risk, but | 
knew that it was grossly exaggerated by the cowardly fel- 
lows we had with us, and I felt that-if we did not make 
some use of the launch beyond going to places where we 
might go as easily and as safely in a canoe, it was of little 
use our having the steamer at all. 
“T felt, also, that it was very important that we should 
at all events show ourselves to the natives and have some 
little communication with them, that they might get some 
idea as to what our objects were, and that the way might 
be opened for a better acquaintance at a future time. I 
