CHAPTER VI.
S e c o n d I n t e r v i ew w ith th e N a tiv e s— V is it to th e p r in c ip a l V illa g e— B o d ie s e x p o s e d to d r y—
A r e g h e o r C h ie f— L i e u t e n a n t W a in w r ig h t a tta c k e d b y N a tiv e s— A d v a n ta g e o f th e P o r t -
F u r t h e r D e s c r ip t io n o f t h e I s l a n d , i t s S o il a n d P ro d u c tio n s .
O n the afternoon of the 8th, we again landed under Mount Duff,
to try the feeling of the natives. Our party was not large, and we carefully
avoided every thing that might appear offensive, carrying with us a
white flag upon a staff. One man only, at first, ventured near us,
rubbed noses, and received several presents, with which he was highly
delighted. His companions, who, during the interview, had been peeping
from behind the trees, noticing his friendly reception, laid aside
their weapons, came out of the wood, and saluted us in their usual
manner, singing, as they approached, the chorus we had heard on
board, which strengthened our opinion of its being a song of welcome.
The next day I landed with a party in the bay where the principal
village is situated, and was met at the landing-place, which was about
half a mile from the village, by two or three men who rubbed noses, and
seemed glad to see us. They took us by the arm and conducted us to
the village along a narrow pathway, through long grass and loose stones,
overshadowed by a wood of bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees. In this distance
we passed a few patches of cultivation, but they were rare, and indicated
very little attention to agriculture. The natives increased greatly
in numbers as we advanced, and all were officious to pay us attention,
and assist us to the village: they were armed, yet their manner showed
it was, as with us, only a precautionary measure; nothing in appearance
could exceed their amicable behaviour. We had each two or more
friends, who officiously passed their arms under ours, helped us over cHAP.
the stones, and conducted us along t1h e r•i g1h t. pa,t1h..w..a y to the village;• VI.
a species of escort, however, which, by depriving us of the use of our
Jan.
limbs, placed us entirely in their power. We passed several huts open
1826.
on the south side, and one, which was full of fishing nets, closed u p ; near
these there were tw'O bodies wrapped in a great many cloths, exposed
upon stalls raised about a yard from the ground, and supported upon
forked props, as represented.
The natives were unwilling that we should touch any of these, and
we did not offend them by so doing, but approached within a few feet
to ascertain whether there were any offensive smell from the corpse,
but none could be discerned.
Further on we came to an open area, partly paved with blocks of
coral, and divided off from the cultivated land by large slabs of the
same material very evenly cut, and resembUng those at the Friendly
Islands. At one end of this area stood the large hut which had before
excited our curiosity: it was about thirteen yards in length by six or
seven in width, and proportionably high, with a thatched roof On the
south side it was entirely open, and the gables nearly so, being constructed
with upright poles, crossed by smaller ones, forming an open
frame-work, through wliich the sea breeze circulated, and refreshed
the area within. Beneath the roof on the open side, about four feet
within the eaves, there was a low broad wall well constructed with
blocks of coral, hewn out and put together in so workman-like a