CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE. 299 



had yet been seen constructed on a low island. These people appear 

 to have few tools, and the only articles of E uropean manufacture that 

 were seen was a plane-iron fastened to a stick, in the form of an adze, 

 with a few blue glass beads. 



The island was by estimate fifty feet high, and was found to be 

 nine miles long, north-northeast and south-southwest, and about five 

 miles wide, with an extensive lagoon, having in it many coral 

 patches : there is a boat-entrance. On the northwest side there 

 appears to be a continuous village, with cocoa-nut groves throughout 

 its whole extent, and the island is evidently very thickly peopled : 

 the ferocity of the savages precluded the possibility of attempting 

 a landing. 



The island is believed to afford some tortoise-shell and pearls ; but 

 the ferocious and savage disposition of the natives would require 

 traders to be strongly armed. 



Lieutenant-Commandant Rino^ojold induced one of the natives to 



DO 



come on board for a hatchet, and directed him to draw the shape of 

 the island with a piece of chalk ; but he proved so wild and was so 

 much amazed, that he did nothing but leap about, constantly uttering 

 exclamations. 



The communication with this island was too brief and imperfect to 

 obtain any satisfactory knowledge of its manners and customs, and 

 the disposition of the natives was averse to such intercourse : they 

 appeared to have been seldom visited by vessels. It is believed that 

 they have the domestic fowl among them, from its feathers having been 

 seen as ornaments. The yam was also observed, but not the taro. 



The brig supplied them with sweet-potatoes, pumpkins, and 

 oranges, and made signs that they were to plant them, which they 

 well understood, and engaged to do. 



In exchange for the various articles we received, they were given 

 knives, shawls, iron, hatchets, and cotton cloth. 



It was remarked that they possessed the most astonishing talent 

 for haranguing : some individuals continued for three quarters of an 

 hour to hold forth in a tone which it seemed impossible for any indi- 

 vidual to sustain for more than a few minutes, hardly stopping to 

 take breath, and keeping up at the same time constant and violent 

 gesticulations. These attracted no attention from their fellows, as 

 each seemed bent upon doing his part, and tried to be equally up- 

 roarious. 



It was now deemed impossible to extend the cruise to the Isles of 



