no 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CH^YP. This general practice in the South Seas, when judiciously executed, 
besides having its useful effects, is highly ornamental. In the Gambler 
1^2^ Islanders there is a greater display of taste than I have seen or heard 
of anywhere else, not excepting the Marquesans : but the Nukahiwers, 
as well as the Otaheitans and others, attend principally to device ; 
whereas the Gambler Islanders dispose the lines so as materially to 
improve the figure, particularly about the waist, which, at a little 
distance, has the appearance of being much smaller than it really is. 
Whether this has been accidental or designed we had no opportunity 
of learning. 
d'he number of visiters on board was considerable ; yet there was 
very little to interest us beyond the first gratification of our curiosity. 
I’hey were so engrossed by their own efforts to purloin some of the 
many things which they saw, that it was impossible to engage their 
attention in other matters. It was besides necessary to keep so strict 
a watch over the stores of the ship, and their conduct was so noisy and 
importunate, that our desire for their company was hourly lessened, and 
we were not sorry when, on preparing the boats to land, we saw the 
rafts put off from the ship, and every man upon our decks throw himself 
into the sea and swim ashore. 
On approaching the beach, we found the coral animals had reared 
their structure all round the island, and had brought it so near to the 
surface that the large boats could not come within two hundred yards 
of the landing-place, and the smaller ones could approach only by 
intricate windings between the rocks. 
The natives were very numerous upon the shore, the usual popu- 
lation being' greatly increased by parties which curiosity had brought 
from the other islands. The women and children at first formed part 
of the noisy multitude, all of whom were clamorous for us to effect 
a landing ; but the females shortly retired out of sight, and the men 
formed themselves into two lines, and ceremoniously proceeded to a 
place where their katamarans usually disembarked, humming in chorus 
a sullen tune not devoid of harir ony. Some of them seeing we were 
greatly impeded by the coral rocks, waded out and laid hold of the boats, 
while others pushed off upon rafts, and attempted to drag us in, by 
