104 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CH^AF. naked inhabitants upon this small spot; but from the mast-head of 
boat, which overlooked the land, could perceive no cultivation ; and 
Dec. there were no fruit-trees upon the island but the pandanus, which 
has not been mentioned in any voyage that I am acquainted with as 
constituting a food for the natives of these seas: indeed, from the 
fibrous nature of the nut it bears, it did not appear to us possible that 
it could be serviceable as food. We were, consequently, curious to 
know upon what the natives subsisted, independently of the shell-fish 
which the reefs supplied ; but nothing occurred to satisfy us on that 
head. 1 he surf was too high for the boats to land, and our only com- 
munication was by signs and an exchange of sentences unintelligible on 
both sides. 
Upon the angles of the island there were three square stone huts, 
about six feet high, with a door only to each ; they did not appear to 
be dwelling-houses, and were probably places of interment or of wor- 
ship. Several sheds thatched with the boughs of trees, some open on 
one side only and others on both, which were seen on different parts of 
the island, were more appropriate residences in such a climate. 
The natives were tall and well made, with thick black hair and 
beards, and were very much tattooed. Their signs intimated a dis- 
position to be friendly, and an invitation to land, which we could not 
do ; but none of them ventured to swim off to the boats, probably on 
account of the sharks, which were very numerous. 
We quitted Crescent Island at day-light on the 29th, and about 
noon the same day w ere close off Gambler’s groupe. Several of these 
islands had a fertile appearance, especially the largest, on which is si- 
tuated the peak we had seen the day before, and which Captain Wilson, 
in passing to the northward of the groupe, named Mount Duff. It 
was probable, that among these islands we should find a stream of 
water from which our stock might be replenished, provided an opening 
through the reef w'hich surrounds the volcanic islands could be found ; 
and as it w'as of the highest importance that our wants in this respect 
should be supplied, I determined closely to examine every part of the 
groupe for an entrance ; for in the event of not being so fortunate as to 
succeed here, it would be necessary to alter the plan of operations, and 
proceed direct to Otaheite, the only place where a supply of that in- 
