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 who 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 malting. 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 was 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. 



