BRIEELY ISLAND AND NATIVES. 219 



after anchoring-, and smaller fish of many kinds were 

 caught in abundance, — they were mostly species of 

 Pentapus, Diacope, and Mesoprion. 



While passing a small island — afterwards named 

 in honour of Mr. Brierly — distant from our an- 

 chorage about two miles N.W. by W., several 

 women and dogs were seen on shore, and soon 

 afterwards two canoes, which had followed us from 

 the anchorage, were seen to put in there. In the 

 afternoon two boats were sent to this island, to 

 communicate with the natives, and search for an 

 anchorage near it. We landed upon a sandy beach, 

 after wading over the fringing reef, and were met 

 by some natives who had come round a neighbour- 

 ing point from the windward or inhabited side. 

 Although at first cautious of approach, yet in the 

 course of a few minutes they came freely about us to 

 the number of twenty, each carrying two or three 

 spears — not the beautifully polished and well- 

 balanced ones we had seen elsewhere, but merely 

 slender, rudely -fashioned sticks sharpened at each 

 end. About twelve women, dressed in the usual 

 petticoat of grass-like stuiF, followed at a distance, 

 and kept close to the point for some time ; but at 

 length the natural curiosity of the sex (I suppose) 

 overcame their fear, and although repeatedly ordered 

 back by the men, they drew up closer and closer to 

 have a peep at the strangers. Two of the youngest 

 and most attractive of these ladies advanced to 

 within twenty yards, and received with much appa- 



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