BOWDITCH ISLAND. 9 



obtained from excavations made in the body of the cocoa-nut trees, 

 two feet from the ground. These trees are all dug out on the lee 

 side, towards which all are more or less inclined. These excavations 

 are capable of containing five or six gallons of water. 



Our gentlemen were under the impression that they saw the whole 

 population, and counted forty male adults, which, on the supposition 

 that they were one-third, would make the population one hundred 

 and twenty. 



This island was discovered by Byron, in 1765, who reported it as 

 destitute of inhabitants. The natives gave the name of their island 

 as Oatafu, and acknowledged themselves the subjects of a chief who 

 lived on a neighbouring island, called Fakaafo, pointing to a southerly 

 direction. With this exception, they did not appear to possess the 

 knowledge of any other islands but their own. 



Their idea was that the ship had come from the sky, and that the 

 officers were divinities ; the question whether they were so was con- 

 stantly repeated, and although every endeavour was made to convince 

 them to the contrary, yet the disclaimer produced no effect. Their 

 continual singing and chaunting was supposed to arise from the 

 desire to propitiate us. 



When a number of the officers had collected in the malse, the two 

 oldest of the men, seating themselves on the ground, with two short 

 sticks, commenced chaunting and drumming on a large stick, whilst 

 another wrapped a net about his middle, and began to dance : the 

 more they were interrupted, the more vigorous became their efforts, 

 both in the song and dance. 



These islanders were thought by all to be a docile, harmless people, 

 although they possessed, in common with all other savages, a strong 

 propensity to theft. Many of the officers lost small articles out of 

 their pockets, which were no doubt taken at the time of their affec- 

 tionate embraces. Just as they were leaving the island, a hatchet 

 was missed, which was supposed to be stolen ; on the loss being 

 made known to them, a prodigious excitement ensued. The old 

 chief, or he who had been pointed out as the " alike," jumped up with 

 much energy, and made a speech with a stentorian voice and exces- 

 sive volubility, while his whole frame was agitated. The natives 

 immediately separated in all directions, and in a short time the 

 missing hatchet was produced. 



They had no knowledge of the use of tobacco, so general among 



VOL. V. 3 



