PAUMOTU GROUP. 321 



them. On coming alongside the boat, he seemed somewhat uneasy, 

 until he had gone through the ceremony of rubbing noses, which I 

 must confess was any thing but agreeable with so dirty and diseased a 

 person. He was extremely anxious to get hold of the presents, and 

 amused us by at once plunging them under the water, seeming in no 

 manner concerned about keeping them dry. He was all the while 

 making a noise like the purring of a cat. In return for my presents, 

 he at once offered me the short mantle of matting w r hich he had over 

 his shoulders. 



They understood the Tahitian language. The chief gave his name as 

 Korokoa, and the name of the island as Wytoohee. He appeared about 

 sixty years of age, and his teeth were all sound and good. 



His brother was the priest, to whom I also gave some presents. 

 This man had a very remarkable head, the forehead being very high, 

 and narrow almost to deformity, with a dark and suspicious bright 

 eye. His hands were deformed, being destitute of joints, and the 

 lower part bent at right angles. The son of the chief was a remark- 

 ably fine-looking lad of fifteen. We saw no women, as they had all 

 been hid. The colour of these natives was much darker than those 

 seen before ; in some the hair was inclined to frizzle, and the beard 

 curly. All the grown men that I saw had mustaches ; their features 

 were strongly marked with a good-humoured expression of counte- 

 nance ; they wore the maro, and some had a few feathers in their hair. 



The boats of the Peacock succeeded in landing on the east side of 

 the island, where the coral reef shelves at about an angle of 10°, and 

 having the wind blowing obliquely on it, there is comparatively little 

 surf. Some half a dozen natives were here seen ; an officer approached 

 them making signs of friendship, which they returned. At first they 

 seemed quite timid, meeting the advances made in a manner which 

 showed that they were anxious to propitiate us, but still fearful. They 

 were reassured of our good-will by offering them some small presents, 

 when two old men came forward, holding their arms upright above 

 their heads, with their hands open, and became desirous of shaking 

 hands, and even offered to rub noses. Each was armed with a stick, 

 (for it could not be called a spear,) six or seven feet long : on some of 

 them were fastened the jaws of the porpoise. 



Tney appeared to be greatly astonished, and their looks bespoke 

 amazement at our appearance. Occasionally, as if to satisfy themselves 

 of the reality, they would put their hands on us. On receiving a few 

 trifling presents, they broke forth into the same song or chaunt that was 

 heard on their first coming towards the ship. The younger ones were 

 the first to show confidence, and were much disposed to laugh and joke 



VOL. I. 41 



