WITH THE CANNIBALS OF NEW BRITAIN ZZ 
wanted also to get some idea of the number of people, and 
of their friendliness or otherwise. These and other similar 
reasons seemed sufficient to justify me in going, even against 
the advice of the natives I had with me. 
“As we neared the shore, a large number of natives came 
out in canoes to meet us. Our natives were greatly excited, 
and begged me most earnestly to keep away from the coast, 
but we kept on our course till the leading canoe was close 
to us, when I stopped the engine for the people to come up. 
On going forward to see that all was right, I saw Waru- 
warum with a large horse pistol of his own ready cocked 
in his hand; this I at once made him cover up out of sight, 
as I had positively forbidden all display of arms. He was 
very unwilling to do so, but yielded under pressure. 
“As the first canoe came alongside, my mind was at ease 
at once—at all events as to any premeditated attack—on 
seeing three nice little children in the canoe. Natives will 
not bring children with them if they intend any mischief, 
though, of course, accidents may happen, and a little thing 
may cause a quarrel at any time. I made the men a small 
present, and put a few beads round the children’s necks; 
then as more canoes came up, we hauled the whaleboat 
alongside the launch, on the seaward side, and made all 
canoes keep to the other side between us and the shore. 
These were precautionary measures which it was well to 
take, but I believe the natives never thought of anything 
but selling their fish, yams, etc. 
“T bought everything they brought, whether we wanted 
it or not, with the exception of tortoise shell, as I had 
determined not to buy any of that article from the natives 
at that time, not even a little for private use, as I wished 
both natives and traders to understand that I was not there 
for trading purposes; and though it would have been easy 
to assure the traders of the fact, the only way to convince 
a native that we did not trade in the article was to refuse 
to buy it altogether. 
