LETTER OF THE ADMIRAL'S SECRETARY. 219 
to the island. The Admiral fired a gun to 
give notice of our arrival, A whale-boat full 
of the islanders soon came off, but before 
coming alongside they asked permission to 
come on board; then jumped up the side 
seven or eight fine, tall, robust fellows, and 
gave us a hearty shake-hands, and assured 
us of a hearty welcome when we went on 
shore. 
" I was in my cabin with Philip M'Coy, 
one of the islanders, when the sentry came 
to tell me that it was prayer-time, for the 
admiral always has prayers before break- 
fast. I said to Philip, ' I shall be up again 
directly, if you will wait.' He paused a 
moment, and then said, ' May I come, sir?' 
4 Oh yes,' I answered. On going down, we 
met the rest of his companions, whom he 
told, and they all came in and knelt down to 
prayers. We then got a hurried breakfast, 
and the admiral and myself immediately 
landed in the cutter, the water being pretty 
smooth. This was the only time a ship's 
boat was able to land, for a heavy surf 
generally rolls in, breaking with terrific 
violence on the rocky shore. The proper 
