314 PAUMOTU GROUP. 



and with a shout and distortion of countenance, made a pass at Mr. 

 Couthouy, who at once dropped looking-glasses, trinkets, &c, at his 

 feet, and quickly made for the boat. The savage took no notice of 

 the relinquished offerings, but advanced to attack him with his spear. 

 When he had reached the edge of the surf, the chief made another 

 thrust at him, but fortunately without injury. This precipitate retreat 

 gave them still more confidence ; they now began throwing pieces of 

 coral, numbers of which struck the men in my boat. I felt no dispo- 

 sition to do them harm, and yet I had no idea of letting them see and 

 feel that they had driven us off without landing, well knowing, how- 

 ever, if a forcible landing took place, and they made resistance, that 

 injury would befall one side, and probably both. I, therefore, thinking 

 that they had no idea of fire-arms, ordered several blank cartridges to 

 be fired ; but they took no notice of them.* According to John Sac, 

 they hooted at these arms, calling us cowards, and daring us to come 

 on shore. I then fired a small charge of mustard-seed shot at their 

 legs, which did not produce any effect. Then, Mr. Peale, who was 

 near by me, was requested to draw his ball, and load with mustard- 

 seed, which he did ; and Lieutenant North likewise fired, which caused 

 the chief and all the rest to retreat, rubbing their legs. The officers 

 were now permitted to land, under strict injunctions, in order to avoid 

 all contact with the natives, not to leave the beach. So much time had 

 been lost before I could get the instruments safely on shore, that I found 

 it too late to make the observations I desired. 



The natives whom we saw, appeared a fine athletic race, much 

 above the ordinary size. Their colour was darker than that of our 

 Indians, but their features resembled them. No tattooing was observed 

 on the men, and the women were not seen close enough to distinguish 

 them. The hair of the former was long, black, and straight. The 

 chiefs had theirs drawn back, and tied in a knot behind ; the others 

 had theirs hanging loose. They wore a small maro made of leaves, 

 and the chiefs a pandanus-leaf around their necks, probably to dis- 

 tinguish their rank. The women wore a piece of tapa as a petticoat ; 

 they were not oiled, and the heads of some seemed filled with ashes or 

 lime. They spoke and understood the Tahitian dialect. The only 

 information obtained from them was, that vessels had before been 

 there, but had gone away without landing. 



Immediately on their being driven from the beach, a large column 

 of smoke was seen, no doubt a signal to the other inhabitants of the 



* I have since understood, however, that the poor natives have been fired upon by trading 

 vessels engaged in the pearl-fishery, in mere wantonness, which will account for their 

 hostile reception of us. 



