CONSIGNMENT OF GOODS. 153 
" all right," the ship's boat being lowered, the 
captain r 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 repre- 
sentatives of the several families, one at least 
from each house, assemble ; and after a hearty 
welcome, and the interchange of friendly expres- 
sions, 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 inhabitants retire, and consult 
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