CONSIGNMENT OF GOODS. 165 
" all right," the ship's boat being lowered, the 
captain, and five or six men, conducted by the 
islander, who steers in the difficult parts, proceed 
to Bounty Bay. Some persons are always ready 
on the rocks to give a signal for the safe entrance 
of the boat, without which precaution serious 
accidents would frequently occur. 
The captain and his company having safely 
landed, are at once greeted and attended by a 
number of the natives, who have descended from 
the village to the little beach. All then ascend 
the hill; and the first walk is usually to the 
school-house, where the strangers obtain a sight 
of the island-register, and examine the shipping- 
list, in which they enter the name of their own 
vessel ; whence she has come, and whither she 
is bound. After some preliminary conversation, 
the representatives of the several families, one at 
least from each house, assemble; and after a 
hearty welcome, and the interchange of friendly 
expressions, inquire what is wanted for the 
vessel, as to vegetables, refreshments, &c. A 
list is handed in of the articles in demand, such 
as yams, sweet potatoes, &c, the price of these 
goods being always the same in time of scarcity 
as of plenty. The inhabitants then, in their 
turn, inquire of the captain, what he has to 
dispose of. This is generally found to be coarse 
cotton cloths, soap, oil, &c, with perhaps some 
small quantities ; of lead or iron. While the 
captain is engaged in conversation with the 
teacher, on matters of mutual and general 
interest, the health of the Queen being the first 
in the series of questions and answers, the 
