THEIR SUSPICIOUS CONDUCT, 231 



the natives made their appearance round the point, 

 coming' up in strag-gling order. One in advance of 

 the rest came along at a rapid pace with his spear 

 poised, and pointed it at the nearest of our party, 

 when within a few yards of him, with what intention 

 I do not presume to say, — but the natives were evi- 

 dently in a state of great excitement. As they 

 might erroneously have supposed that we had been 

 making free with their cocoa-nuts and yams, some 

 grass which had been cut for the sheep on board 

 was taken out of the bag and shewn them as being- 

 intended for our boho (pigs)— which they appeared 

 to understand. The one among them who had 

 yesterday made the allusion to Joannet Island 

 pointed to our guns, talking at the same time with 

 great energy, and making signs as if wishing to see 

 the use of a weapon of whose wonderful effects he 

 had lately heard. As many swallows were flying 

 about, I told Wilcox, — probably the best shot of the 

 party— to shoot one, which was done cleverly, and 

 the bird fell at our feet. The indications of surprise 

 were not so gi*eat as I expected to have seen exhi- 

 bited, but after several more shots had been fired, 

 some with baU along the water, a few of the natives; 

 began to shew signs of uneasiness and sneaked 

 away. Old Wadai, however (perhaps feehng per- 

 fectly secure under the shelter of his perfect in- 

 significance), and one or two others sat down under 

 a tree beside us, apparently unconcerned, and some 



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