CUL DE SAC DE L'ORANGERIE. 287 



to US was a small wooden pillow* about a foot long" 

 and six inches high, with a slig'ht concavity above to 

 receive the neck of the person using- it. Both 

 women and children came off with the men 

 to traffic with us and look at the ship, but none 

 could be tempted to come on board, although they 

 paddled up alongside without the slightest hesita- 

 tion. We were frequently sohcited to accompany 

 them on shore, but no one was allowed to leave the 

 ship. 



The northern shores of the Cul de Sac are low 

 and wooded, forming an extensive tract of level land 

 stretching backwards towards the mountains, with 

 a large opening at its eastern end, which is probably 

 the mouth of a great river. The Bramble was sent 

 to examine this bay, but the shoalness of the water, 

 and the unfavourable nature of the weather pre- 

 vented the completion of this work. Dm-ing her 

 absence a large canoe was seen in the bay, differing 

 from all those hitherto observed in having a trian- 

 gular or latteen sail set with the apex downwards, 

 thus resembling those in use on the north coast of 

 New Guinea, among some of the Malay Islands, 

 and those of the Viti Archipelago. 



The weather, since leaving Brumer Islands, has 

 usually been gloomy, with frequent rain, occasionally 

 very heavy, and a close muggy feeling in the atmos- 

 phere as if one were living in a vapour bath ; the 



* Wooden pillows are also in use in some of the islands of 

 Polynesia and in New Caledonia. 



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