WHALING VOYAGE. 
301 
trousers, thinking that he could row more comfortably ; 
his legs were in consequence exposed to the direct in- 
fluence of the sun, which actually burnt them so much 
that they appeared just as if scalding water had been 
thrown over them, and such was their state that they 
were nearly a fortnight in getting well. 
The morning after our escape in the boats we found 
that the ship had drifted during the night, and had 
approached the opposite shore of New Britain, having 
been much nearer to the shore of New Ireland on the 
preceding day ; and a very different scene presented itself 
in consequence. That part of the coast which we were 
nearest to, actually thronged with natives, who appeared 
busily employed in various ways, — some were launching 
canoes, others ranging the beach in different directions, 
the woods and rocks resounded with their cries, the 
shingly shore swarmed with men, women, and children. 
The dull monotony of the scene which we had viewed 
for five successive days now became animated with 
vivacious beings, — the solemnity and silence which had 
prevailed so long were now broken by the events which 
every moment occurred, and the quick and sharp cries 
which were now heard from the shore. 
A number of canoes filled with the sable inhabitants 
of these burning regions were seen to put off, but when 
they came within a hundred yards of the ship they all 
ceased paddling, and nothing could induce them to 
approach nearer to us ; the captain then ordered two 
boats to be manned and sent to them. When we began 
to get close to them, the various emotions which sprang 
