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SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. and sulky. When the people left off washing to 
go on board to dinner, they took their clothes with 
them, much against the wish of the natives, who 
made signs that they should be left, and intrusted 
to their care ; this was, however, prudently and 
cautiously refused, for the natives had become 
very inquisitive, and wished to possess them- 
selves of every thing they saw : they then followed 
our party to the tent, and amused themselves 
about us during dinner. They appeared to be 
particularly struck with the progress that we had 
made upon the boat, which had by this time as- 
sumed its shape. Some of them wanted to go 
on board, but not liking their appearance, and 
fearful of a rupture by being obliged to refuse 
them many things that were about the decks, and 
which they would certainly ask for, I desired Mr. 
Bedwell to divert them from their wish. After 
dinner our people returned to resume their wash- 
ing ; and, taking their tubs and clothes, walked to- 
wards the watering-place, which was about three 
hundred yards off. Soon afterwards the natives 
took their leave, intimating by signs that they 
were going to eat ; but, upon passing by our peo- 
ple at their washing-tubs, they stopped, and en- 
deavoured to persuade one of the sailors, whose 
fair complexion led them to imagine that he was 
of the softer sex, to undress ; the man complied 
