NUMEKOUS VISITORS TO THE SHIP. '2G9 



and some loose bottom boards form a partial shifting 

 deck. The mast is supported above by two staj^s 

 fore and aft, and below steps into a massive bent 

 timber crossing the centre of the canoe, resting on 

 the bottom, and is secured above to the inner end of 

 the long cross beam by strong lashings, and some 

 large wedges between it and one side. The sail is of 

 great size, being as long as the platform, but both 

 in construction and mode of management is pre- 

 cisely similar to that formerly described with refer- 

 ence to a canoe seen at Coral Haven, supposed to 

 have come from Piron's Island. 



A few days ago we saw another canoe closely 

 resembling the above mentioned, but much smaller 

 and carrying only eleven people. It exhibited, 

 however, one peculiarity in the great breadth of 

 beam amidships — amounting to four feet— which 

 gave it much room for stowage and additional 

 buoyancy. 



Of late the number of natives daily coming off to 

 the ship has rapidly increased, so as now to amount 

 to upwards of 100 in about 15 canoes and cata- 

 marans. Those from Tissot Island and the main- 

 land usually arrive in the forenoon, and, after 

 an hour's stay, leave us for the northern village on 

 the nearest Brumer Island, where they spend the 

 the night and return the next morning with a fair 

 wind. The noise and scrambling- alongside when 

 bartering is going on baffles all description, — besides 

 the usual talking and shouting, they have a 



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