366 RAPA. 
tance, viewing us with apparent suspicion and 
surprise. At length, one of the canoes, containing 
two men and a boy, ventured alongside. Perceiv- 
ing a lobster lying among a number of spears at 
the bottom of the canoe, I intimated, by signs, my 
wish to have it, and the chief readily handed it up 
I gave him, in return, two or three middle-sized 
fish-hooks; which, after examining rather curiously, 
he gave to the boy, who, being destitute of any 
pocket, or even article of dress on which he could 
fasten them, instantly deposited them in his mouth, 
and continued to hold with both hands the rope 
hanging from our ship. The principal person in 
the canoe appearing willing to come on board, I 
pointed to the rope he was grasping, and put out 
my hand to assist him up the ship’s side. He 
involuntarily laid hold of it, but could scarcely 
have felt my hand grasping his, when he in- 
stantly drew it back, and, raising it to his nostrils, 
smelt at it most significantly. After a few mo- 
ments’ pause, he climbed over the ship’s side. As 
soon as he had reached the deck, our captain 
led him to a chair on the quarter-deck, and, 
pointing to the seat, signified his wish that he 
should be seated. The chief, however, having 
viewed it for some time, pushed it aside, and sat 
down on the planks. Our captain had been de- 
sirous to have the chief on board, that he might 
ascertain from him whether the island produced 
sandal-wood, as he was bound to the Marquesas in 
search of that article. A piece was therefore pro- 
cured and shewn to him, with the qualities of which 
he appeared familiar; for, after smelling it, he called 
it by some name, and pointed to the shore. While 
we had been thus engaged, many of the canoes 
had, unperceived by us, approached the ship; and 
