114 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, which they in all probability at first imagined it to be ; and from their 
behaviour on the occasion I think it quite certain they are not cannibals. 
As the curiosity of one party of our visiters became satisfied, they 
quitted the ship, and others supplied their place. One of these fa- 
voured us with a song, which commenced with a droning noise, the 
words of which we could not distinguish ; they then gave three shouts, 
to which succeeded a short recitation, followed by the droning chorus 
and shouts as before. In this manner the song proceeded, each recita- 
tion differing from the former, until three shouts, louder than the 
others, announced the finale. The singers arranged themselves in a 
semicircle round the hatchway, and during the performance pointed 
to the different parts of the ship, to which their song was undoubtedly 
applicable ; but it was impossible to say in what way, though I have 
every reason to believe it was of a friendly nature. 
While the decks were so crowded with visiters, the duty of water- 
ing the ship could not be carried on, and it was of the greatest con- 
sequence that it should be got through speedily, as the boats were 
required to survey the group, upon which I could not bestow many 
days. My hope was, that the natives would quit us as their curiosity 
became satisfied, especially as they had nothing to barter except some 
sour paste, which, being extremely unpalatable to every one on 
board, was not marketable. After breakfast, two small boats, the only 
ones we had in repair, were equipped for landing, and the barge was 
ordered to be in attendance ; for though there was every reason to 
expect a friendly reception, yet in a country where the language is not 
understood, and among a barbarous people, whose principal aim is 
plunder, it is extremely difficult to avoid disputes, especially when the 
force to which they are opposed is greatly inferior to their own. We 
felt the loss of the cutter at this moment, as she was a boat so much 
better calculated for the service we had to perform than the gig or 
whale-boat. 
As we had anticipated, the boats had no sooner put off* from the 
ship, than all the natives quitted her as before, and joined their com- 
panions on shore, who were assembled in a wood skirting the beach. 
At the approach of the boats, there was much bustle among the trees ; 
