128 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. 
VI. 
Jan. 
1826. 
tion of the articles that had been stolen, and also some supplies; 
at the same time he intimated that a person of superior dignity 
resided on the other side of the hill. But if this were true, the 
distance was only half a mile, and we remained long enough in the 
village for a person to have traversed it five or six times. We were 
next introduced, by the chief, to several women, who saluted us in the 
usual manner, and thankfully accepted our presents. The chief wished 
me particularly to notice one of them, a fine tall woman about thirty- 
five years of age, with sharp black eyes, long black hair, rather sun- 
burnt, white and even teeth, a complexion lighter than the generality 
of her country-women, and with a good-natured countenance which the 
coarseness of feature only prevented being pretty. She had an armlet 
tattooed on each arm, and was without any other ornament whatever ; 
her ears even were not pierced for the reception of rings. Her dress 
consisted of a piece of white cloth wrapped round the hips, and another 
round the waist below the breast, which was exposed. There was some- 
thing commanding in her manner, and from her intimacy with the chief 
she was evidently a person of superior rank. She addressed her con- 
versation to me with a volubility and earnestness which showed she felt 
confident of being understood, but 1 regret that our total ignorance 
of their language denied me the pleasure of interpreting even one 
word ; and I could only infer from her tears and actions, that her tale 
was of a serious and distressing nature. She soon however dried her tears, 
and sat beside us with the greatest composure. 
While I was engaged with the chief, the officers strolled about, 
each accompanied by a circle of friends, and were kindly treated. Mr. 
Belcher, in his researches, discovered three drums, very similar to those 
at Otaheite, as described by Captain Cook! The largest was about five 
feet six inches high, and fourteen inches in diameter. It was made of 
the trunk of a porou tree (hibiscus tiliaceus ), hollowed out, and covered 
with a shark’s skin, which had been strained over it when wet ; the edges 
were secured with sinnet, neatly made, and finished with pieces of 
cloth plaited in with fine line : it was otherwise ornamented about the 
trunk, and stood upon four feet. It was brought to me, and I offered 
