NATIVES AND THEIR CANOES. 81 



trees), frequently of great size^ being" the predomi- 

 nant trees. The g'rass was very luxuriant and even 

 difficult to wade through, indicating- an abundance 

 of water, of which several small streams were seen. 

 One of these streamlets close to the anchorage is 

 well adapted for watering- a ship at, as boats can 

 approach within a few yards ; and the supply can 

 never, I have g-ood reason to believe, entirely 

 cease. 



The natives, a small party of whom were here, 

 have had frequent intercourse with Europeans, and 

 indeed the sight alongside the ship of eight canoes, 

 four of which carried two unarmed men, and the 

 others one each, would of itself, to most people, 

 have been a convincing' proof of a friendly dispo- 

 sition. That such apparent desire to be on friendly 

 terms might often mislead strangers, is not to be 

 wondered at. Yet these same people, a few years 

 ago, made a sudden and most wanton attack upon 

 a seining party belonging to H.M.S. Fly, and 

 shortly after we left them, they attempted to cut off 

 a small vessel which had called there for water. 



Their canoes are very simply constructed of a 

 single sheet of bark of the g-um-tree brought 

 together at the ends, and secured by stitching. 

 The sitter squats down with his legs doubled under 

 him and uses a small square piece of bark in each 

 hand, as paddles, with one of which he also bales 

 the water out by dexterously scooping it up from 

 behind him. 



VOL I. ^ 



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