112 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1818. the sea, for their timidity would not let them 
May 17. approach us near enough to place it in our hands ; 
but that containing the fruit, not being buoyant 
enough to swim, did not permit of this method, 
so that, after much difficulty, an old man 
was persuaded to deliver it. This was done 
in the most cautious manner, and as soon as 
he was sufficiently near the boat he dropped, 
or rather threw the basket into my hand 
and immediately retreated to his companions, 
who applauded his feat by a loud shout of 
approbation. In exchange for this I offered 
him a tomahawk, but his fears would not allow 
him to come near the boat to receive it. Finding 
nothing could induce the old man to approach us 
a second time, I threw it towards him, and upon 
his catching it the whole tribe began to shout and 
laugh in the most extravagant way. As soon as 
they were quiet we made signs for the theodolite 
stand, which, for a long while, they would not un- 
derstand ; at one time they pretended to think 
by our pointing towards it, that we meant some 
spears that were lying near a tree, which they 
immediately removed : the stand was then taken 
up by one of their women, and upon our pointing 
to her, they feigned to think that she was the 
object of our wishes, and immediately left a 
female standing up to her middle in the water 
