324 PAUMOTU GROUP. 



by some dozen natives, who were resolute in preventing them from 

 going beyond the water's edge ; in other respects, they were disposed 

 to be quite friendly. 



The chief was an old man, and was induced to venture off towards 

 the boat. One of the gentleman swam to those on shore ; his recep- 

 tion was similar to that met with at the other islands : rubbing noses, 

 kissing, and shaking of hands. Whenever he attempted to lay his 

 hands on them, they started back, but were continually pawing and 

 whining over him, making a kind of purring noise, not unlike that by 

 which we propitiate or soothe the feelings or doubtful temper of some 

 beast. They presented them with mats made of the panda nus-leaf, and 

 also pieces of worn-out tapa, in return for many articles received, but 

 would not suffer our people to put their feet upon dry ground, and 

 when it was attempted, kept shoving them gently into the water. 



The naturalists in the afternoon endeavoured to effect a landing at 

 another place, out of sight of the natives, and succeeded. Mr. Brack- 

 enridge, on landing the second time, ran to the thicket, in order to 

 lose no time in making collections, and was employed in gathering 

 specimens, when two stout natives came running up, and made him 

 understand, by very intelligible signs, that he must return to the boat ; 

 he pretended not to understand them, and endeavoured to proceed, 

 but they went before him, and crossed their clubs, determined that he 

 should go no farther. This caused him to laugh, in which the two 

 natives joined. Finding there was no alternative, he took an oblique 

 direction towards the boat, hoping by this means to enlarge his collec- 

 tion, which he succeeded in doing, while the natives, as he describes 

 it, shouldered him out of the bush, and then towards the boat. The 

 rest of the party having gone up to the huts, were at once seized and 

 shoved down towards the boat, and into the surf, where they presented 

 rather a ludicrous appearance, with the danger of drowning on the one 

 side, and the natives on the other, who had them completely in their 

 power, as they had neither arms nor any other means of defence. 

 No harm, however, was done them, but the alarm incident to being 

 threatened with spears. The only mishap met with was the loss, by 

 one of the gentlemen, of a pair of spectacles, and a bruise or two from 

 the coral, in their hurried retreat. As the surf was heavy, life-preservers 

 were sent to those who could not swim; and after much detention, 

 they reached the boat in safety. Had such a circumstance occurred 

 at Clermont de Tonnerre, I am satisfied that most serious consequences 

 would have resulted to us. 



The superficial extent of the island of Otooho is about a square 

 mile; it has no lagoon, is well covered with trees, and has fresh water 



