CANOES VISIT THE SHIP. 195 



trees, and a villag-e of four or five huts. We landed 

 on a small islet connected with the south-west 

 point of Pig" Island by a reef, and strolled about 

 with our g'uns while the boat's crew were having- 

 their dinners. Several Megapodii were seen and one 

 was shot, — it afterwards proved to be the M. Duper- 

 reyi, previously known as a native of Port Dorey 

 on the north-west coast of New Guinea. While 

 holding- on to the reef a party of natives, apparently 

 from Brierly Island, paddled up in a canoe, and, 

 after some hesitation at first, came along-side calling- 

 out kelumai — kelumai, which we conjectured to be 

 their word for iron. For a few trifling articles we 

 obtained a spear or two, and some cooked yams, 

 and parted g-ood friends, after which we returned to 

 the ship, having- completed the circuit of the island 

 without finding- a practicable watering place. 



June 18th. — Five canoes came off this morning 

 with seven or eight natives in each, but apparently 

 not with the intention of bartering-, although they 

 remained for a short time near the Bramble; it 

 was thought that some allusions were made by 

 them to the pistol stolen yesterday, but this did not 

 appear to be certain. After a while they crossed 

 over to the ship, and from a respectful distance — as 

 if afraid to come closer — used many violent gesti- 

 culations, talking vehemently all the while, and 

 repeatedly pointed to the break in the reef by 

 which we had entered Coral Haven, waving us off 

 at the same time. Our red friend from Pig Island 



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