PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
Ill 
fixing their poles under the seats of the boat, and pressing upon the CHAP, 
gunwale as a fulcrum; an ingenious contrivance, from which we found 
it difficult to free ourselves, especially as the poles were very large. Dec. 
Others, again, prepared cords to fasten the boats to their raft, uncon- 
scious of our possessing any instrument sufficiently sharp to disengage 
them. In short, they were determined we should land ; but as I did not 
iike the place, and as their conduct appeared to be a repetition of what 
We had experienced outside the harbour, we disappointed their expecta- 
tions, and went to the next island. 
M^e were there joined by some of our visiters who had been on 
fioard the ship, who reminded us of our former acquaintance, and 
greeted us with a hearty rub of their noses against ours. This saluta- 
tion, it was thought by some of us, sealed a friendship between the 
parties ; but we had not sufficient opportunity of ascertaining whether 
it Was considered inviolable. The manner of effecting this friendly 
compact is worthy of description. The lips are drawn inward between 
the teeth, the nostrils are distended, and the lungs are widely inflated; 
with this preparation, the face is pushed forward, the noses brought 
into contact, and the ceremony concludes with a hearty rub, and a 
Vehement exclamation or grunt : and in proportion to the warmth of 
iceling, the more ardent and disagreeable is the salutation. 
Finding, from communication w'ith our friends, that water was to 
fie had at Mount Duff, we quitted them and crossed to that point, 
where we had the satisfaction to see two streams trickling down the 
titles of the hill, either of them sufficiently ample for our purpose, and 
situated that the ship could, if necessary, be placed near enough to 
Cover the parties sent to procure it. This gratifying discoveiy was of 
the greatest importance, and the ship was immediately removed to a 
Convenient spot opposite the place. 
We were late getting across the lagoon from our first anchorage, 
iR consequence of the necessity of proceeding with the utmost caution 
to prevent striking upon rocks of coral, which were numerous, and in some 
instances rose from twenty-eight fathoms to within twelve feet of the 
surface ; so that it was dark before the sails were furled, and we had no 
Communication with the natives that night. One man only, piobably 
