6 BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



and west is three miles, and its width two and a half miles, north and 

 south. There is no passage into the lagoon ; the sea breaks on the 

 reef with violence; but at high water a boat may pass over without 

 difficulty, if proper care is taken. The islets that have been formed 

 on the reef are eight or ten feet above the water, and are covered 

 with cocoa-nut and pandanus trees. 



As they approached the island, three double canoes were seen 

 coming towards the ship, but with great caution ; the mizzen-topsail 

 was backed to allow them to come up, which they did, singing and 

 shouting, making many gestures, and waving pieces of matting. A 

 white flag was waved in return, and various articles exhibited to 

 induce them to come alongside, which they at last did; but no 

 inducement could prevail on them to come on board. 



The canoes were all double, made of pieces of wood sewed together 

 like those of Samoa, and were ornamented in like manner with white 

 ovula-shells. The blades of their paddles also resembled those of 

 the Samoans, being oblong and slender. The colour and features 

 of these people showed that they belonged to the Polynesian race, and 

 it was observed there was little or no difference between their appear- 

 ance and that of the Samoans, to which dialect their language was 

 allied. A Samoan whom they had on board could partially under- 

 stand them, but not unfrequently was entirely at a loss ; Mr. Hale, 

 however, was enabled to comprehend many of the words. It appeared 

 that their refusal to come on board proceeded from the singular ap- 

 prehension that the ship would be lifted out of the water, and taken 

 up to the sky, from which they believed she had descended. Some 

 few of them got as far up as the gangway, one of whom had an 

 ulcerated arm, which he desired might be cured. 



In each canoe there were ten men, who wore the maro, which was 

 braided like matting. On their head was a piece, made in some 

 cases of matting, in others of tortoise-shell, and occasionally this 

 ornament resembled an eye-shade, or the front of a cap, to protect 

 the face from the sun ; their hair was cut short, and was the same 

 in character as that of the Polynesians ; they wore necklaces of shells, 

 and small pieces of sponge, and wreaths of pand anus-leaves around 

 the neck. Only one of those in the canoes seemed to be a person 

 of note : in his shade were stuck several of the tail-feathers of the 

 tropic-bird. A plane-iron and some blue beads were seen in their 

 possession : this, with their knowledge of trade and desire of carrying 



