naked inhabitants npon this small spot ; hnt from the mast-head of
the boat, which overlooked the land, conld perceive no cnltivation ; and
there were no fruit-trees upon the island but the pandanus, which
has not been mentioned in any voyage that I am acquainted with as
constituting a food for the natives of these seas : indeed, from the
fibrous nature of the nut it bears, it did not appear to us possible that
it could be serviceable as food. YVe were, consequently, curious to
know upon what the natives subsisted, independently of the shell-fish
which the reefs supplied ; but nothing occurred to satisfy us on that
head. The surf was too high for the boats to land, and our only communication
was by signs and an exchange of sentences unintelligible on
both sides.
Upon the angles of the island there were three square stone huts,
about six feet high, with a door only to each ; they did not appear to
be dwelling-houses, and were probably places of interment or of worship.
Several sheds thatched with the boughs of trees, some open on
one side only and others on both, which were seen on different parts of
the island, were more appropriate residences in such a climate.
The natives were tall and well made, with thick black hair and
beards, and were very much tattooed. Their signs intimated a disposition
to be friendly, and an invitation to land, which we could not
do ; but none of them ventured to swim off to the boats, probably on
account of the sharks, which were very numerous.
YY"e quitted Crescent Island at day-light on the 29th, and about
noon the same day were close off Gambier's groupe. Several of these
islands had a fertile appearance, especially the largest, on which is situated
the peak we had seen the day before, and which Captain YY"ilson,
in passing to the northward of the groupe, named Mount Duff. It
was probable, that among these islands we should find a stream of
water from which our stock might be replenished, provided an opening
through the reef which surrounds the volcanic islands could be found ;
and as it was of the highest importance that our wants in this respect
should he supplied, I determined closely to examine every part of the
groupe for an entrance ; for in the event of not being so fortunate as to
succeed here, it would be necessary to alter the plan of operations, and
proceed direct to Otaheite, the only place where a supply of that in