BOWDITCH ISLAND. 7 



After the natives had thus made a precipitate retreat, the boats 

 were lowered, and a large party proceeded to land at the nearest 

 point. The landing was effected on the coral shelf with some diffi- 

 culty, and they found the natives, who had come alongside, ready 

 to receive them, with every sign of friendship. They had apparently 

 recovered from their alarm, and met the officers before they reached 

 the beach, greeting them by rubbing noses and throwing their arms 

 around their necks. Their excitement seemed to be so great that it 

 was difficult for them to continue still for a moment, distracted by 

 the numerous novel things around them. Some of them, however, 

 were exceed ina;ly shy, and would not suffer themselves to be ap- 

 proached ; others had greater confidence, but at the same time showed 

 a respectful fear; while a few put their arms round the officers' necks, 

 and exhibited a boldness devoid of dread of any kind. The latter 

 urged the party to accompany them to their village. These different 

 states of feeling were associated with a peculiar mode of singing, 

 which they would continue for some time, during which nothing could 

 induce them to stop; this ended, their astonishment and excitement 

 would again appear to find relief in vociferating with great volubility 

 for several minutes, at the end of which they would break out in a 

 hearty laugh, without the least apparent cause. These islanders are 

 tattooed on the cheeks, breast, legs, and above the hips. 



A part of these marks consisted of two rows of lines running from 

 the tip of the ear across the cheek and nose, with small crosses 

 between. There were others passed around the body below the 

 chest; many marks resembling fish were on the arms, and a sort 

 of triangle, together with figures of turtles, on the breast. On the 

 legs were many concentric rings. The markings were distinct and 

 peculiar. 



Their village, to which our party went, was on the inner or lagoon 

 side of the island, and contained about thirty houses, which were 

 raised about a foot above the surrounding earth : they were of oblong 

 shape, about fifteen feet high to the ridge-pole, sloping gradually, and 

 of a convex form to within two or three feet of the ground ; the roof 

 was supported on high posts, whilst the lower part rested on short 

 ones, three feet within the eaves, having a strong piece extending 

 around, on which the rafters are tied ; the gable-ends were over- 

 topped by the roof, and seemed necessary to protect them from the 

 weather. Below the eaves, the whole was open from the ground to 

 the roof. The thatching, made of pandanus-leaves, was of great 

 thickness, and put on loosely. The interior of the houses was very 

 clean, but there was no furniture except a few gourds, and a reclining 



