P AUMOTU GROUP. 325 
to enter into communication with the natives, and to land to make 
observations. Seventeen natives were now seen on the beach, armed 
with long spears and clubs, which they were brandishing with 
menacing attitudes, making motions for me to retire. As I 
approached them with a white flag flying, many more were seen 
in the bushes, probably in all about one hundred' I told John Sac 
to speak to them, which he did, and found he was understood. The 
only answer he could get from them was, several of them crying 
out at the same time, "Go to your own lands; this belongs to us* 
and we do not want to have any thing to do with you." It was impos- 
sible to beach the boat without injury on account of the surf and coral, 
and in order to land it was necessary to swim a short distance, 
which could not be done without our being attacked, and suffering 
injury, before we had established a friendly intercourse. I therefore 
had recourse to throwing presents to them,— all of which, they eagerly 
took,— assuring them that we were friends ; but they still continued 
warning us off, and threatening us with their long spears. I am 
rather inclined now to think our interpreter was partly the cause of 
my not succeeding in overcoming their fears and scruples. John Sac 
was truly a savage, although he had imbibed some feelings of 
discipline, and was generally a well-disposed fellow. He was a 
petty New Zealand chief, at the Bay of Islands, and had resided 
some time at Tahiti, where he said he was married. At times it was 
difficult to control John's movements. He on this occasion soon 
became provoked at the chief's obstinacy ; and the idea of their re- 
ceiving all our presents so greedily without thanks in return, excited 
his native fire ; his eye shone fiercely, and his whole frame seemed 
agitated. Half naked as he was, his tattooing conspicuous, he stood 
in the bow of the boat brandishing his boat-hook like a spear, with 
the dexterity of a savage. It was difficult to recognise the sailor in 
the fierce majestic-looking warrior before us. The chief and John 
kept passing words until both were becoming vociferous, the one 
appearing as savage as the other. John's animated attitudes and 
gestures were the admiration of all. As we could not understand 
him, he may have said many things to irritate the savage chief before 
lie could be silenced, although he declared his innocence in that 
respect afterwards. I had been engaged for upwards of an hour 
endeavouring to overcome their fears of us, when I was joined by 
several boats from the other vessels. The officers being anxious to 
have communication with the natives, were desirous of landing, and I 
vol. 1. 82 
a 
