IB FOBTER^S JOURNAL. 



whose only failing was a strong attachment to rum. Wil- 

 son soon became a great favourite with me, as well as 

 every other person. He proved indispensably necessary 

 to us ; and without his aid I should have succeeded badly 

 on the island. His knowledge of the people, and the 

 ease with which he spoke their language, removed all 

 difficulties in our intercourse with them ; and it must be 

 understood, in all relations of future interviews and con- 

 versations, which took place between me and the natives, 

 that Wilson is the organ of communication, and the means 

 by which we are enabled to understand each other. I 

 shall, therefore, in future, deem it unnecessary to say, I was 

 assisted by an interpreter ; it must always be understood 

 that I had one. Such were my impressions of Wilson at 

 the time ; but I have since had occasion to be satisfied 

 that he was a consummate hypocrite and villain. 



On my jumping on shore, unaccompanied by any other 

 persons, and walking up to a group of natives, who were 

 assembled near the house where Mr. Maury resided, all 

 their apprehensions seemed to cease. The women, who 

 had retired to a distance, came down to join the male na- 

 tives ; and even the landing of the marines, as well as the 

 rest of the party, did not seem to occasion any uneasiness 

 among them. The drum appeared to give them much 

 pleasure ; and the regular movements of the marines oc- 

 casioned much astonishment. They said they were spirits 

 or beings of a class different from other men. I directed 

 them to be put through their exercise ; and the firing of 

 the muskets occasioned but little terror, except among the 

 women, who generally turned away their faces and cover- 

 ed their ears with their hands. The men and boys were 

 all attention to the skipping of the balls in the water; but 

 at every fire all habitually inclined their bodies, as if to 

 avoid the shot, although behind the men who were firing. 

 After remaining a short time with them, I distributed 

 among them some knives, fish-hooks, &;c. &lc, which they 

 received with much apparent pleasure ; but no one offered, 

 like the natives of the other island, any thing in return. 



Observing the mountains surrounding the valley to be 

 covered with numerous groups of natives, I inquired the 

 cause, and was informed that a warlike tribe residing be- 

 yond the mountains had been for several weeks at war 



