14 B0WD1TCH ISLAND. 



Towards sunset, the natives gave them notice that it was time for 

 them to return to their town, upon which our party embarked and 

 joined the ship. 



During the night, they had heavy rains, and stood on and off 

 the island. In the morning, Captain Hudson landed, opposite the 

 islet on which the town was situated, with four boats. The surf was 

 breaking heavily, and they were well drenched, being obliged to wade 

 over the reef, which was from knee to waist deep. 



The king and about two hundred natives awaited their approach. 

 The former was seated in advance, with about twenty old men ; the 

 rest stood behind, and all began to gesticulate and chaunt, as if 

 under great excitement. They pointed to the sun and howled, 

 spreading mats, and making motions for our party to be seated. Our 

 gentlemen complied with their request, and the king, after embracing 

 Captain Hudson, rubbed noses, pointed to the sun, howled, moaned, 

 rubbed his nose over the captain's chin, hugged him again and 

 again, put a mat around his waist, securing it with a cord of human 

 hair, repeating the rubbing of noses, and howled for twenty minutes. 

 The same ceremony was gone through with by minor chiefs, with 

 the other officers. 



The king, whose name was Taupe, was somewhat advanced in 

 years, with a grave countenance. He had a sickly look, and his legs 

 were much affected with the elephantiasis. Notwithstanding this, 

 however, he would have been deemed a fine-looking man. He was 

 thought to be under much greater agitation from fear than any of his 

 subjects. The moment Captain Hudson attempted to leave his side, he 

 would set up a most piteous howl and point to the men. He continued 

 to repeat, in a tremulous and agitated tone, "Nopo kilalo, mataku au" 

 (sit down, I am afraid). A continued desire was manifested that our 

 people should depart, and take the presents they had offered. 



Every endeavour was made to quiet their fears, and to convince 

 them that our people did not come from the sun; but nearly an hour 

 elapsed before they were tranquillized. After this, they became 

 more familiar ; but their manners continued to evince the same mix- 

 ture of timidity and friendliness that had been observed at Oatafu. 

 They were induced to trade after they were quieted, when fish-hooks 

 and knives were in great request, for which mats, fishing imple- 

 ments, model canoes, two or three feet long, wooden boxes with 

 covers, cut out of the solid wood, and cocoa-nuts, were given. 



