THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 45 * 
near the fea-fide, at the bottom of a retired bay, which 1780. 
muft afford a fafe road-ftead during the prevalence of the , 
South Weft monfoons. 
This town conftfts of between twenty and thirty houfes, 
built clofe together; befides lix or feven others that are 
fcattered about the beach. The roof, the two ends, and the 
fide fronting the country, are neatly conftrudted of reeds ; 
the oppofite fide, facing the fea, is entirely open; but, by 
means of a fort of bamboo fcreens, they can exclude or let 
in as much of the fun and air as they pleafe. We obferv- 
ed, likewife, other large fcreens or partitions, for the pur- 
pofe of dividing, as occafion required, the fingle room of 
which the houfe, properly fpeaking, confifts, into feparate 
apartments. 
We were conducted to the largeft houfe in the town, 
belonging to their Chief, or, as they called him, their 
Captain. This houfe had a room at each end, feparated by 
a partition of reeds from the middle fpace, which was 
open on both fides, and provided with partition fcreens 
like the others. It had, befides, a penthoufe, projecting 
four or five feet beyond the roof, and running the whole 
length on each fide. At each end of the middle room 
were hung fome Chinefe paintings, reprefenting men and 
women in ludicrous attitudes. In this apartment we were 
civilly defired to feat ourfelves on mats, and betel was pre-^ 
fented to us. 
By means of my money, and pointing at different objecfts 
in fight, I had no difficulty in making a man, who feemed 
to be the principal perfon of the company, comprehend 
the main bufihefs of our errand ; and I as readily under- 
ftood from him, that the Chief, or Captain, was abfent, 
but would foon return; and that, without his confent, no 
3 M 2 purchafes 
