58 ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 



protection of the abdomen. Their hair was trimmed short in front, 

 but was allowed to grow long behind, where it tapered to a point ; 

 in both sexes it was black and fine, with a slight tendency to curl. 



After returning to the mariapa, Tama was asked to give them an 

 exhibition of a dance. This he endeavotired to do, but without 

 receiving much attention. At length, the young chief, whom they 

 had found particularly troublesome, came forward, with an insolent 

 and swaggering air, wrapped a mat round his body, from the waist to 

 the knees, and began a dance similar to that of the Polynesian 

 islanders, before described, consisting of movements of the hands 

 and body, but with very little motion of the feet. When the dance 

 was "finished, the afternoon was far advanced ; the party then returned 

 to the boats, which had now been able to draw near the beach, in 

 consequence of the rise of the tide. On their way to the ship, the 

 tiny canoes of the natives, with their small white triangular sails, 

 were seen in all directions, coming to the shore. On board, it was 

 believed that upwards of a thousand had visited the ship in the course 

 of the day. 



On the afternoon of the 7th, a large party visited the town of 

 Utiroa, equally well armed as the day before, and with the same 

 instructions and cautions that no one should give cause of offence, 

 and if any thing was offered for sale, to pay liberally for it. These 

 precautions were enjoined, in consequence of the belief that the 

 natives were a treacheroiis and dangerous set of fellows, and were 

 inclined to believe themselves invulnerable in their armour. An 

 opportunity had been taken, before a large number, to show them 

 that the cuirass, &c, was not proof against our weapons at any dis- 

 tance ; for which purpose one of the coats of mail was hoisted up at 

 the yard-arm, and fired at : the holes were then exhibited, but did 

 not seem to produce much effect upon them. They manifested a 

 decided disposition for warlike pursuits, and ferocity was the most 

 predominant trait in their character. 



On the party's landing, Captain Hudson moved towards the 

 council-house, where they found a large concourse of people, most 

 of them elderly men, who they were informed were the chiefs of 

 the nation : they were directed to one corner, where sat the chief, 

 whom they called Nea. He was a very decrepit old man, nearly 

 bald, with shrivelled skin, and had a stare of vacant wonder; the 

 nails of his fingers had grown to the length of an inch. His name 

 was Pakorokoro. Some few presents were given him, but he took 



