deck. The man had an apron full of biscuit, which had
been given to him by the midshipmen; this impeded his
running, so that the Chief, notwithstanding his robes, at last
came up with h im ; but while he was stirring him up with
his rod, the fellow slipped his cargo of bread into a coil of
rope, and then went along with the Chief quietly enough.
The old man came back afterwards, and found the biscuit;
which he pointed out to us, to shew that it had not been
taken away.
He continued for some time at the hatchway, expecting
more people; bu t finding none come up, he went below
himself, to the main deck, and rummaged under the guns
and round the main-mast, to discover whether any one was
concealed ; but finding no person there, he came again upon
deck, and shortly after went into his boat.
On returning to the Lyra, we found a number of boats
anchored round her, which looked as if they meant to keep
strict watch over us. We went in our boat to one of them,
where we found the crew asleep. They seemed to have
had orders not to follow the Chief to the frigate, and were
here waiting his return. On our pointing to the shore, and
making signs that the old man with the long beard and
large hat had landed, they began immediately to get their
anchor up, and called to the other boats to do the same.
In a few minutes they were all a t work, and every person
in the boats joined in repeating the two words “ ho y a, ho ya,
the effect of which, from a great many voices, was not
unpleasing.
The cable in these boats is wound round a large reel or
barrel; to thé ends of which two wheels with handles are fitted,
which enables a considerable number to apply their strength
at the same moment. The anchor is made of a dark coloured,
heavy wood, with along shank and flukes, and a short stock
crossing the former, near the crown of the anchor, and not
a t the end of the shank, as with us in Europe. The mat
sails are divided into horizontal divisions by slender pieces
of bamboo. When not under sail, the boats are moved by
oars having a circular piece of wood tied to the end, and are
steered by a large scull over the stern. The bow is square
above, but rises from the water in a slope, makmg a smal
angle with the water, like the end of a coal barge, but
overhanging more. The planks are fastened together by
means of square tree-nails, which pass in a slanting direction
through the plank, and not straight, as with us.
5th of September.—A considerable bustle was observed
on shore a t daybreak this morning ; and shortly afterwards,
we saw the old Chief and his suite embark, and pull towards
us, accompanied by a numerous fleet of smaller boats, all