BOWDITCH ISLAND. 9 



Their idea was that the ship had come from the sky, and that the 

 officers were divinities ; the question whether they were so was con- 

 stantly repeated, and although every endeavour was made to convince 

 them to the contrary, yet the disclaimer produced no effect. Their 

 continual singing and chaunting was supposed to arise from the desire 

 to propitiate us. 



When a number of the officers had collected in the malse, the two 

 oldest of the men, seating themselves on the ground, with two short 

 sticks, commenced chaunting and drumming on a large stick, whilst 

 another wrapped a net about his middle, and began to dance: the more 

 they were interrupted, the more vigorous became their efforts, both in 

 the song and dance. 



These islanders were thought by all to be a docile, harmless people, 

 although they possessed, in common with all other savages, a strong 

 propensity to theft. Many of the officers lost small articles out of 

 their pockets, which were no doubt taken at the time of their affec- 

 tionate embraces. Just as they were leaving the island, a hatchet was 

 missed, which was supposed to be stolen; on the loss being made 

 known to them, a prodigious excitement ensued. The old chief, or he 

 who had been pointed out as the " alike," jumped up with much energy, 

 and made a speech with a stentorian voice and excessive volubility, 

 while his whole frame was agitated. The natives immediately sepa- 

 rated in all directions, and in a short time the missing hatchet was 

 produced. 



They had no knowledge of the use of tobacco, so general among the 

 other islanders of Polynesia, and when shown some, they made signs 

 to know if it was edible. On being given a cigar, they examined it 

 very closely, and being induced to light it, attempted to imitate the 

 motions of smoking; but instead of drawing in the breath to ignite 

 it, pursued a directly opposite course, and very soon returned it with 

 some agitation, apparently rejoiced to get rid of it. The natives ac- 

 companied them in a body to the beach, and saw them safely into the 

 boats. 



Dip and intensity observations were made here ; they likewise had 

 a perpendicular cast of the lead, half a mile from the shore, with three 

 hundred fathoms ; but they found no bottom. 



Nineteen varieties of trees were found, some of which were of a 

 large growth; among which were seen large Tournefortia, covered 

 with Asplenium and Polypodium, species of ferns, which gave it quite 

 a venerable appearance ; a pandanus more than thirty feet high. A 

 tree, believed to be a Pisonia, was more than twenty feet in circum- 

 ference at its base, and about forty feet high. A beautiful species of 



vol. v. 2 



