PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
105 
tlispensable article could be depended upon. On approaching the CHAP, 
island, with the ship, we were gratified by perceiving that the coral 
chain, which to the northward was above water, and covered with trees, De^ 
to the southward dipped beneath it ; and though the reef could be 
traced by the light blue-coloured sea, still it might be sufficiently 
covered to admit of the ship passing over it, and finding an anchorage 
in the lagoon. As we were putting off from the ship in the boats to 
niake this interesting inquiry, several small vessels under sail were ob- 
served bearing down to us. When they approached we found they 
were large katamarans or rafts, carrying from sixteen to twenty men 
each. At first several of them were fastened together, and constituted 
a large platform, capable of holding nearly a hundred persons ; but 
before they came near enough to communicate they separated, furled 
their sails,' and took to their paddles, of which there were about twelve 
to each raft. We were much pleased with the manner of lowering 
their matting sail, diverging on different courses, and working their 
paddles, in the use of which they had great power, and were well 
skilled, plying them together, or, to use a nautical phrase, keeping 
stroke. They had no other weapons but long poles ; and were quite 
Raked, with the exception of a banana leaf cut into strips, and tied 
about their loins, and one or two persons who wore white turbans. 
Their timidity in approaching both the ship and the barge were im- 
iRediately apparent ; but they had no objection to any of the small 
boats ; which they were probably aware they could, if necessary, easily 
Rpset when within their reach ; and, indeed, it required considerable 
caution to prevent such an occurrence, not from any malicious intention 
on the part of the natives, but from their thoughtlessness and inquisi- 
tiveness. I approached them in the gig, and gave them several pre- 
sents, for which they, in return, threw us some bundles of paste tied 
np in large leaves. Not knowing at first what it was, I caught it in 
niy arms, and was overpowered with an odour that made me drop it 
instantly. They made signs that it was to be eaten, and we afterwards 
found it was the common food of the natives. It was what is called 
mahie at the Marquesas, but with a higher gout than I ever heard that 
article possessed in those islands, and very much resembled the first 
I 
