despatched for the chiefs. The natives 
were so alarmed, that they soon sent off 
three or four more messengers ; and 
' we returned on board to dme. After 
dinner, 1 went on shore with Mr, Pauld¬ 
ing, the .first lieutenant, and some of 
the under officers, for the purpose of 
shooting birds. After rambling round 
the Island for some time, we discovered 
a number of natives quickly approach¬ 
ing us from the lower part of the I sland ? 
and supposing the chiefs were with 
them, we sat down to await their arri¬ 
val ; but before they came to us, a sig¬ 
nal was set on board the schooner, for 
us to return, which was immediately 
obeyed, without waiting for an interview 
with the natives. Early on the next 
morning. I was sent ashore to ascertain 
W hether the chiefs had arrived, and soon 
fbund that they had, and were in a hut, 
waitiiig to receive a visit from the capt¬ 
ain, w ho, I informed them, would come 
on shore after breakfast, to have a talk 
with them, and also to bestow some 
