accompanied by a number of natives, who all went to their houses for
their arms before they would leave their village. They have no faith
whatever in one another. We passed through a large swamp covered with
mangroves--then into a dense tropical bush, passing through an extensive
grove of sago palms and good-sized mango trees. The mangoes were
small--about the size of a plum--and very sweet. At some distance inland
I took up a peculiar-looking seed; one of the natives, thinking I was
going to eat it, very earnestly urged me to throw it away, and with signs
gave me to understand that if I ate it I should swell out to an enormous
size, and die.

We walked about seven miles through bush, and then began the ascent of
one of the spurs of the Astrolabe. On nearing the inland village for
which we were bound, the natives became somewhat afraid, and the leader
stopped, and, turning to Mr. Lawes, asked him if he would indeed not kill
any of the people. He was assured all was right, and then he moved on a
few paces, to stop again, and re-inquire if all was right. When
reassured, we all went on, not a word spoken by any one, and so in
silence we entered the village. When we were observed, spears began
rattling in the houses; but our party shouted, _Maino_, _maino_ (Peace,
peace), _Misi Lao_, _Misi Lao_. The women escaped through the trap-doors
in the floors of their houses, and away down the side of the hill into
the bush. We reached the chief's house, and there remained.

The people soon regained confidence, and came round us, wondering greatly
at the first white men they had ever seen in their village. The women
returned from their flight, and began to cook food, which, when ready,
they brought to us, and of which we all heartily partook. We gave them
presents, and they would not suffer us to depart till they had brought us
a return present of uncooked food. They are a fine, healthy-looking