of coral reefs at the distance of ten and fifteen miles from
the shore, and therefore cannot be approached by a ship
without great danger. The extreme south point is comparatively
clear of coral; we therefore anchored off it at
sunset, proposing to land next day to determine its position.
We found the iron cables of great use when anchoring
amongst coral reefs.
15th of October.—I t blew hard last night, but in the
forenoon it moderated sufficiently to allow of our landing.
We ascertained the latitude of the extreme south point
with precision, and made several other observations, all
circumstances being favourable.
We had scarcely landed when the natives began to assemble
in groups on the top of the cliffs, and in a short
time they came down to us, most of them carrying long
poles in their hands; we were sufficiently aware of their inoffensive
character to have no apprehension of their intentions,
otherwise their appearance would have been somewhat
formidable. There was no person of rank among them;
they were communicative and full of curiosity, which difference
in manner from the inhabitants on the shores of Port
Melville may have arisen from these people knowing something
of us by reports from Napakiang, which is not above
ten miles distant. I t was to.be expected that we should
have become a. topic of discourse a t so short a distance, and
probably what was said of us would be favourable, or at
all events such as would excite curiosity rather than fear.
Most of these people had fish spears tatooed on their arms
in the form of a trident, with rude barbs. When drawn on
the risht arm it is called | O o d e em © aw w h e n on the left,
“ To6ga.” This is the only instance we have met with of
this practice. Our curiosity was farther excited by the appearance
of these spears, from the circumstance of our never
having seen any warlike weapon on this island; but the
people invariably called them “ Edo stitchee” (fish spear);
Several of the tallest of these people were measured, but none
■ were above five feet six inches; they are, however, strong
limbed and well proportioned. One of them wore a ring
on his finger, which is the only instance we have met with of
any ornament being worn at Loo-Choo. The ring finger is
called in the Loo-choo language, “ Eebee gdnnee/’ finger of
the ring; and it seems a fair inference from this, that amongst
some part of the community rings are habitually worn;
probably by the women. The coast here is formed of
cliffs, about seventy or eighty feet high, with numerous
caverns hollowed out by the waves. The pools of water left
by the tide were full of beautiful fish of a great variety of
colours.