142 SOUTHERN CRUISE. 



provisions, and were all well. At daylight on the 26th they came on 

 board. On the 27th we recovered our anchor, and on the 28th set 

 sail for Orange Harbour. 



On the evening of the 29th, having entered Nassau Bay, (it being 

 quite dark,) as we were standing as we supposed over for Orange 

 Harbour, we heard the surf, and suddenly discovered that we were 

 close in and among the kelp ; we immediately anchored, in six 

 fathoms. 



At daylight we found ourselves in a snug cove of Wollaston's 

 Island, and discovered that it was the false pack-saddle to the south- 

 ward of the island which had served to mislead us. 



We were here visited by a canoe with six natives, two old women, 

 two young men, and two children. The two women were paddling, 

 and the fire was burning in the usual place. They approached the 

 vessel, singing their rude song, " Hey meh leh," and continued it until 

 they came alongside. The expression of the younger ones was ex- 

 tremely prepossessing, evincing much intelligence and good humour. 

 They ate <ham and bread voraciously, distending their large mouths, 

 and showing a strong and beautiful set of teeth. A few strips of red 

 flannel distributed among them produced great pleasure ; they tied it 

 around their heads as a sort of turban. Knowing they were fond of 

 music, I had the fife played, the only instrument we could muster. 

 They seemed much struck with the sound. The tune of Yankee 

 Doodle they did not understand ; but when " Bonnets of Blue" w T as 

 played, they were all in motion keeping time to it. The vessel at this 

 time was under way, and no presents could persuade them to continue 

 any longer with us. There was some disposition in the younger ones, 

 but the adults refused to be taken where the fickleness of their climate 

 might subject them to be blown off. We found them also extremely 

 imitative, repeating over our words and mimicking our motions. 

 They were all quite naked. 



I have seldom seen so happy a group. They were extremely lively 

 and cheerful, and any thing but miserable, if we could have avoided 

 contrasting their condition with our own. * 



The colour of the young men was a pale, and of the old a dark 

 copper colour. Their heads were covered with ashes, but their ex- 

 terior left a pleasing impression. Contentment was pictured in their 

 countenances and actions, and produced a moral effect that will long 

 be remembered. 



On the 30th we reached Orange Harbour. While yet off the port, 

 we made signal for the boats, and were soon joined by them, and 

 learned with much pleasure that they were all well. The Sea-Gull had 



