34 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, remedied the defect by unceremoniously appropriating to that use a 
part of one of the officers' apparel, and then commenced a song not 
1825 iiil^S’i’iiionious. Far from being jealous of her situation, she 
aided all her countrywomen who aspired to the same seat of honour 
with herself, by dragging them out of the water by the hair of the head ; 
but unkind as it might appear to interfere to prevent this, it was neces- 
sary to do so, or the boats would have been filled and unmanageable. 
As our party passed, the assemblage of females on the rock com- 
menced a song, similar to that chaunted by the lady in the boat; 
and accompanied it by extending their arms over their heads, beating 
their breasts, and performing a variety of gestures, which showed that 
our visit was acceptable, at least to that part of the community. 
When the boats were within a wading distance of the shore, they 
were closely encompassed by the natives ; each bringing something in 
his hand, however small, and almost every one importuning for an 
equivalent in return. All those in the water were naked, and only 
here and there, on the shore, a thin cloak of the native cloth was to 
be seen. Some had their faces painted black, some red ; others black 
and white, or red and white, in the ludicrous manner practised by our 
clowns ; and two demon-like monsters were painted entirely black. It 
is not easy to imagine the picture that was presented by this motley 
crowd, unrestrained by any authority or consideration for their visiters, 
all hallooing to the extent of their lungs, and pressing upon the boats 
with all sorts of grimaces and gestures. 
It was found impossible to land where it was at first intended : 
the boats, therefore, routed a little to the northward, followed by the 
multitude, and there effected a disembarkation, aided by some of the 
natives, who helped the party over the rocks with one hand, while 
they picked their pockets with the other. It was no easy matter to 
penetrate the dense multitude, and much less practicable to pursue a 
thief through the labyrinth of figures that thronged around. The 
articles stolen were consequently as irretrievably lost here, as they 
were before in the hands of the divers. It is extremely difficult, on 
such occasions, to decide which is the best line of conduct to adopt : 
whether to follow Captain Cook’s rigid maxim of never permitting a 
