the supposition, that upon further acquaintance their apprehension
would yrear off.
Business being ever, the chiefs were asked to walk round
the cabin, an invitation which they accepted with manifest
satisfaction. During the conference they had preserved a,
gravity suited to an important ceremony, and, though
surrounded by new and curious objects, had never expressed
the least curiosity. They were now no longer formal, and
looked over the various articles with attention, taking particular
notice of the globes, books, and mirrors. Their manners
are remarkably gentle and unassuming. They are observant,
and not without curiosity, but they require encouragement to
induce them to come forward, being restrained, it would seem,
by a genteel self-denial, from gratifying curiosity, lest it might
be thought obtrusive. Their dress is singularly graceful;
it consists of a loose flowing robe, with very wide sleeves,
tied round the middle by a broad rich belt or girdle of
wrought silk, a yellow cylindrical cap, and a neat straw
sandal, over a short cotton boot or stocking. Two of the
chiefs wore light yellow robes, the other dark blue streaked
with white, all of cotton. The cap is flat a t top, and
appears to be formed by winding a broad band diagonally
round a frame, in such a manner, that a t each turn a small
portion of the last fold shall be visible above in front,
and below a t the hinder part. The sandal is kept on by a
stiff straw band passing over the instep, arid joining the
sandal near the heel; this band is tied to the forepart by a
slight string, drawn between the great toe and the next,
the stocking having a division like the finger of a glove for
the great toe. They all carry fans, which they stick in their
girdles when not in use, and each person has a short tobacco
pipe in a small bag* hanging, along with the pouch, a t the
girdle. When they had satisfied themselves with looking
over the cabin, they went away, with a promise of returning
in the evening as soon as the answer from the Great Mari
should arrive.
During all this morning, the whole space between the
ships and the shore has been covered with canoes, each
containing about ten persons. The scene was very lively,
for few of the parties which came to visit the ships
remained long on board, so that the canoes were continually
passing backwards and forwards, and the number
which came in this way must have been immense. They
all seemed highly gratified a t being allowed to go where-
ever they liked over the ships, nor was this liberty ever
abused. The manners even of the lowest classes are
genteel and becoming; their curiosity is great, but it
never makes them rudely inquisitive; their language is