106 Letter IV. 
the other direction, is a lagoon which runs a long way into the 
land and opens it up for boat communication ; while on the 
north, also, there is both good anchorage and shelter for 
vessels. 
The vessel took up a position at the head of the bay 
just off the little island of Fil, which protects the inner 
harbour of that name. Shortly after the anchor was down, 
a flotilla of canoes put off from the islet, and in ten minutes 
we were surrounded by an armada, manned by crews of 
large and loquacious females. They had not the slightest 
reverence for the character of the vessel, but banged its 
venerable sides with their canoes, so as almost to cause the 
old “ Dayspring” to reel with astonishment and offended’ 
dignity. They had not the slightest respect for our nerves, 
but shrieked and yelled at the top of their voices, as they 
scrambled about and tried to get into good places round the 
vessel. They were not at all bashful, these Fili women, 
but quite the reverse, and were altogether a most decided 
contrast to the downcast dejected-looking creatures I had 
seen at the southern islands. Some of them were of an 
immense size, and all were bright and active. Many had 
rather good features, and I saw one girl in a canoe by 
herself that was really pretty. 
They had come to barter, bringing shells principally, and 
wanting in return a great variety of articles. I opened busi- 
ness with the dusky charmer in the small canoe, and pro- 
duced several objects which ought to have taken her savage 
fancy; but no, she would only shake her head and shriek 
“shooshah,” at the top of her voice. Though puzzled, I still 
continued my endeavours to tempt her with various objects, 
but without success ; and I was just about to give it up as a 
bad job, when, holding up by chance a jews-harp, the prob- 
lem was solved. The mysterious “shooshah ” was nothing 
