6 
BOWDITCH ISLAND. 
As they approached the island, three double canoes were seen 
coming towards the ship, but with great caution; the mizzen-topsail 
was backed to allow them to come up, which they did, singing and 
shouting, making many gestures, and waving pieces of matting. A 
white flag was waved in return, and various articles exhibited to induce 
them to come alongside, which they at last did; but no inducement 
could prevail on them to come on board. 
The canoes were all double, made of pieces of wood sewed together 
like those of Samoa, and were ornamented in like manner with white 
ovula-shells. The blades of their paddles also resembled those of 
the Samoans, being oblong and slender. The colour and features 
of these people showed that they belonged to the Polynesian race, and it 
was observed there was little or no difference between their appearance 
and that of the Samoans, to which dialect their language was allied. 
A Samoan vyho was on board the Peacock could partially understand 
them, but not unfrequently was entirely at a loss; Mr. Hale, however, 
was enabled to comprehend many of the words. It appeared that their 
refusal to come on board proceeded from the singular apprehension 
that the ship would be lifted out of the water, and taken up to the sky, 
from which they believed she had descended. Some few of them got 
as far up as the gangway, one of whom had an ulcerated arm, which 
he desired might be cured. 
In each canoe there were ten men, who wore the maro, which was 
braided like matting. On their head was a piece, made in some cases 
of matting, in others of tortoise-shell, and occasionally this ornament 
resembled an eye-shade, or the front of a cap, to protect the face from 
the sun; their hair was cut short, and w r as the same in character as 
that of the Polynesians; they wore necklaces of shells, and small pieces 
of sponge, and wreaths of pandanus-leaves around the neck. Only one 
of those in the canoes seemed to be a person of note: in his shade were 
stuck several of the tail-feathers of the tropic-bird. A plane-iron and 
some blue beads were seen in their possession: this, with their know¬ 
ledge of trade and desire of carrying it on, proved that they had before 
had intercourse with ships. They exhibited great expertness in show¬ 
ing off their various articles to view, and were very eager to sell in 
order to obtain our articles. 
They had matting, nets, fish-hooks of bone, wooden boxes, paddles, 
and miniature canoes. Whilst the bartering was going on, the ship 
fired a great gun, for the base by sound, with the tender. This 
created much consternation, and they all scrambled into their canoes 
under strong excitement, making a prodigious clamour, seized their 
paddles, and pulled for the island, in great trepidation. 
