266 AGAIN VISIT THE ISLAND. 



tion. But all theae natives appeared to feel as much 

 confidence afloat as on shore ; and we had frequent 

 opportunities of observing- their fearlessness of the 

 water, and dexterity in swimming' and diving' when 

 alongside the ship. 



Aug. 20th. — It being' considered probable that 

 the natives might be induced to part with some of 

 their pigs, a party was sent on shore, to endeavour 

 to procure some by barter. On landing, which was 

 effected with much less difficulty than yesterday 

 (for it was now high water, enabling the boats to 

 go over the reef although heavy rollers were coming 

 in), we found that most of the men were absent, and 

 the few remaining, although made to understand 

 what we wanted, did not appear to hke our paying 

 a visit to their village, as if suspicious of our inten- 

 tions towards the women, a circumstance which 

 Em-opeans must always be on their guard against 

 in dealing with savage tribes. Our stay therefore 

 was very short — not exceeding five minutes, — and 

 on the way back, besides picking up a few scraps 

 for my vocabulary from a number of women and 

 children in company, I procured a very fine white 

 Helix from the branch of a bread-fruit tree, and had 

 a brief opportunity of examining the rock of the 

 island. This is of volcanic origin, and consists of 

 a stratified earthy tufa and volcanic conglomerate, 

 hollowed out below by the sea, succeeded by a 

 harder vesicular rock above which one of the forms 

 of lava has been poured out. 



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