332 SAVU ISLAND CHAP. XIV 
made us at once conclude that there were Europeans among 
the islanders, by whom we should be received at least more 
politely than we were used to be by uncivilised Indians. 
After a very short stay the lieutenant returned, bringing 
word that he had seen Indians, in all respects, as colour, 
dress, etc., much resembling the Malays; that they very 
civilly invited him ashore, and conversed with him by signs, 
but neither party could understand the other. They were 
totally unarmed, except for the knives which they wore in 
their girdles, and had with them a jackass, a sure sign that 
Europeans had been among them. 
It was resolved to go to the lee side of the island in hopes 
there to find anchoring ground; in the meanwhile, however, 
the boat with some truck was sent ashore at the cocoanut 
grove, in hopes of purchasing some trifling refreshment for 
the sick, in case we should be disappointed later on. Dr. 
Solander went in it. Before it reached the shore we saw 
two fresh horsemen, one of whom had on a complete European 
dress, blue coat, white waistcoat, and laced hat; these as the 
boat lay ashore, seemed to take little notice of her, but only 
sauntered about, looking much at the ship. -Many more 
horsemen, however, and still more footmen gathered round 
our people, and we had the satisfaction of seeing several 
cocoanuts brought into the boat, a sure sign that peace and 
plenty reigned ashore. 
After a stay of an hour and a half the boat made a 
signal of having had intelligence of a harbour to leeward, 
and we in consequence bore away for it; the boat following 
soon came on board and told us that the people had behaved 
in an uncommonly civil manner, that they had seen some of 
their principal people, who were dressed in fine linen, and 
had chains of gold round their necks, that they had not been 
able to trade, the owner of the cocoanut trees not being 
there, but had got about two dozen cocoanuts given as a 
present by these principal people who accepted linen in 
return, and made them understand by drawing a map upon 
the sand, that on the lee side of the island was a bay in 
which we might anchor near a town and buy sheep, hogs, 
