WHALING VOYAGE. 
367 
In a short time I was again beset by the same old 
chief, whose sister had determined to open the negotia- 
tion in a new way ; and she therefore sent her brother 
with the mats under his arm, thinking the sight of them, 
for they were really very neat and pretty, would tempt 
me immediately to send the rum to her ; but I still re- 
fused, and it was not until I had coaxed the old man 
into a good humour that I succeeded in getting him to 
shew me the house in which his sister and himself 
resided. 
When I had obtained all the information I desired, 
I went on board the ship, and informed the captain of 
the bargain, and as I possessed no rum of my own, I 
induced him to accompany me to the shore, wishing 
him to purchase the mats for himself. When the even- 
ing arrived we went to the beach, and found the brother 
awaiting our arrival, who soon conducted us to the 
house of his sister, which when we had entered he slyly 
pointed to an elderly woman who was reclining on a 
sort of bedstead covered with mats,— and making some 
ludicrous grimaces, he intimated that it was a sly affair 
altogether, and that he wished her to bear the blame as 
well as himself, at the same time appearing full of good 
humour, half pleased and half ashamed of his sister’s 
secret passion. When we mentioned the affair to her, 
to our great surprise she with great energy denied any 
knowledge of such a request, and emphatically stated 
that she had never employed her brother upon such a 
disgraceful mission, and the old lady appeared quite 
angry that such an idea should be entertained by us ; 
