280 PAUMOTU GROUP AND 



patches: there is a boat-entrance into it. On the northwest side there 

 appears to be a continuous village, with cocoa-nut groves throughout 

 its whole extent, and the island is evidently very thickly peopled : 

 the ferocity of the savages precluded the possibility of attempting a 

 landing. 



The island is believed to afford some tortoise-shell and pearls ; but 

 the ferocious and savage disposition of the natives would require 

 traders to be strongly armed. 



Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold induced one of the natives to 

 come on board for a hatchet, and directed him to draw the shape of 

 the island with a piece of chalk; but he proved so wild and was so 

 much amazed, that he did nothing but leap about, constantly uttering 

 exclamations. 



The communication with this island was too brief and imperfect to 

 obtain any satisfactory knowledge of its manners and customs, and 

 the disposition of the natives was averse to such intercourse : they 

 appeared to have been seldom visited by vessels. It is believed that 

 they have the domestic fowl among them, from its feathers having been 

 seen as ornaments. The yam was also observed, but not the taro. 



The brig supplied them with sweet-potatoes, pumpkins, and oranges, 

 and made signs that they were to plant them, which they well under- 

 stood, and engaged to do. 



In exchange for the various articles we received, they were given 

 knives, shawls, iron, hatchets, and cotton cloth. 



It was remarked that they possessed the most astonishing talent for 

 haranguing: some individuals continued for three quarters of an hour 

 to hold forth in a tone which it seemed impossible for any individual 

 to sustain for more than a few minutes, hardly stopping to take breath, 

 and keeping up at the same time constant and violent gesticulations. 

 These attracted no attention from their fellows, as each seemed bent 

 upon doing his part, and tried to be equally uproarious. 



It was now deemed impossible to extend the cruise to the Isles of 

 Danger, agreeably to the instructions, on account of want of time and 

 scarcity of provisions. This I regret, as I was very desirous that these 

 islands, pointed out by Admiral Krusenstern, should be examined. 

 This cruise would also have embraced the western positions of Flint's 

 and other islands, as laid down on Arrowsmith's Chart. Compelled to 

 forego this part of his intended task, he stood to the northward, for the 

 purpose of fulfilling that portion of his instructions that lay in his route 

 to the Hawaiian Group. 



Between latitudes 3° S. and 5° N., the easterly current was found 

 to prevail, as before observed by the squadron, between 5° and 10° 



