CIEAP. Xliis general practice in the Sonth Seas, when judiciously executed,
Dec.
182.-,.
besides having its useful effects, is highly ornamental. In the Gambier
Islanders there is a greater display of taste than I have seen or heard
of anywhere else, not excepting the Marquesans: but the Nukahiwers,
as well as the Otaheitans and others, attend principally to device;
whereas the Gambier Islanders dispose the lines so as materially to
improve the figure, particularly about the waist, which, at a little
distance, has the appearance of being much smaller than it really is.
YVhether this has been accidental or designed we had no opportunity
of learning.
The number of visiters on board was considerable; yet there was
very little to interest us beyond the first gratification of our curiosity.
They were so engrossed by their own efforts to purloin some of the
many things which they saw, that it was impossible to engage their
attention in other matters. It was besides necessary to keep so strict
a watch over the stores of the ship, and their conduct was so noisy and
importunate, that our desire for their company was hourly lessened, and
we were not sorry when, on preparing the boats to land, we saw the
rafts put off from the ship, and every man upon our decks throw himself
into the sea and swim ashore.
On approaching the beach, we found the coral animals had reared
their structure all round the island, and had brought it so near to the
surface that the large boats could not come within two hundred yards
of the landing-place, and the smaller ones could approach only by
intricate windings between the rocks.
The natives were very numerous npon the shore, the usual population
being greatly increased by parties which curiosity had brought
from the other islands. The women and children at first formed part
of the noisy multitude, all of whom were clamorous for us to effect
a landing; but the females shortly retired out of sight, and the men
formed themselves into two lines, and ceremoniously proceeded to a
place where their katamarans usually disembarked, liumining in chorus
a sullen tune not devoid of harmony. Some of them seeing we were
greatly impeded by the coral rocks, waded out and laid hold of the boats,
while others pushed off upon rafts, and attempted to drag us in, by
fixing their poles under the seats of the boat, and pressing npon the CHAP.
gunwale as a fulcrum; an ingenious contrivance, from which we found . ,
it difficult to free ourselves, especially as the poles were very large. Dec.
Others, again, prepared cords to fasten the boats to their raft, unconscious
of our possessing any instrument sufficiently sharp to disengage
them. In short, they were determined we should land; but as I did not
like the place, and as their conduct appeared to be a repetition of what
we had experienced outside the harbour, we disappointed their expectations,
and went to the next island.
We were there joined by some of our visiters who had been on
board the ship, who reminded us of our former acquaintance, and
greeted us with a hearty rub of their noses against ours. This salutation,
it was thought by some of us, sealed a friendship between the
parties ; but we had not sufficient opportunity of ascertaining whether
it was considered inviolable. The manner of effecting this friendly
compact is worthy of description. The lips are drawn inward between
the teeth, the nostrils are distended, and the lungs are widely inflated;
with this preparation, the face is pushed forward, the noses brought
into contact, and the ceremony concludes with a hearty rub, and a
vehement exclamation or grunt: and in proportion to the warmth ot
feeling, the more ardent and disagreeable is the salutation.
Finding, from communication with our friends, that water was to
be had at Mount Duff, we quitted them and crossed to that point,
where we had the satisfaction to see two streams trickling down the
sides of the hill, either of them sufficiently ample for our purpose, and
so situated that the ship could, if necessary, be placed near enough to
cover the parties sent to procure it. This gratifying discovery was of
the greatest importance, and the ship was immediately removed to a
convenient spot opposite the place.
We were late getting across the lagoon from our first anchorage,
in consequence of the necessity of proceeding with the utmost caution
to prevent striking upon rocks of coral, which were numerous, and in some
instances rose from twenty-eight fathoms to within twelve feet of the
surface ; so that it was dark before the sails were furled, and we had no
eommnnication with the natives that night. One man only, probably