BOWDITCH ISLAND. 7 



it on, proved that they had before had intercourse with ships. They 

 exhibited great expertness in showing- off their various articles to 

 view, and were very eager to sell in order to obtain our articles. 



They had matting, nets, fish-hooks of bone, wooden boxes, paddles, 

 and miniature canoes. Whilst the bartering was going on, the ship 

 fired a great gun, for the base by sound, with the tender. This 

 created much consternation, and they all scrambled into their canoes 

 under strong excitement, making a prodigious clamour, seized their 

 paddles, and pulled for their island, in great trepidation. 



After the natives had thus made a precipitate retreat, the boats 

 were lowered, and a large party proceeded to land at the nearest 

 point. The landing was effected on the coral shelf with some 

 difficulty, and they found the natives, who had come alongside, ready 

 to receive them, with every sign of friendship. They had apparently 

 recovered from their alarm, and met the officers before they reached 

 the beach, greeting them by rubbing noses and throwing their arms 

 around their necks. Their excitement seemed to be so great that it 

 was difficult for them to continue still for a moment, distracted by 

 the numerous novel things around them. Some of them, however, 

 were exceedingly shy, and would not suffer themselves to be ap- 

 proached ; others had greater confidence, but at the same time 

 showed a respectful fear; while a few put their arms round the 

 officers' necks, and exhibited a boldness devoid of dread of any 

 kind. The latter urged the party to accompany them to their vil- 

 lage. These different states of feeling were associated with a pecu- 

 liar mode of singing, which they would continue for some time, 

 during which nothing could induce them to stop; this ended, their 

 astonishment and excitement would again appear to find relief in 

 vociferating with great volubility for several minutes, at the end of 

 which they would break out in a hearty laugh, without the least 

 apparent cause. These islanders are tattooed on the cheeks, breast, 

 legs, and above the hips. 



A part of these marks consisted of two rows of lines running from 

 the tip of the ear across the cheek and nose, with small crosses 

 between. There were others passed around the body below the 

 chest ; many marks resembling fish were on the arms, and a sort of 

 triangle, together with figures of turtles, on the breast. On the legs 

 were many concentric rings. The markings were distinct and 

 peculiar. 



Their village, to which our party went, was on the inner or lagoon 



