fetch his favourite stool, on which he seated himself, and spent
the remainder of the day in pumping the bilge-water out of the
ship!

Next day the crew went ashore to cut sandal-wood, while the
captain, with one or two men, remained on board, in order to be
ready, if need be, with the brass gun, which was unhoused and
conspicuously elevated, with its capacious muzzle directed point
blank at the chief's house. The men were fully armed as usual; and
the captain ordered me to go with them, to assist in the work. I
was much pleased with this order, for it freed me from the
captain's company, which I could not now endure, and it gave me an
opportunity of seeing the natives.

As we wound along in single file through the rich fragrant groves
of banana, cocoa-nut, bread-fruit, and other trees, I observed that
there were many of the plum and banian trees, with which I had
become familiar on the Coral Island. I noticed also large
quantities of taro-roots, yams, and sweet potatoes, growing in
enclosures. On turning into an open glade of the woods, we came
abruptly upon a cluster of native houses. They were built chiefly
of bamboos, and were thatched with the large thick leaves of the
pandanus; but many of them had little more than a sloping roof and
three sides with an open front, being the most simple shelter from
the weather that could well be imagined. Within these, and around
them, were groups of natives - men, women, and children - who all
stood up to gaze at us as we marched along, followed by the party
of men whom the chief had sent to escort us. About half a mile
inland we arrived at the spot where the sandal-wood grew, and,
while the men set to work, I clambered up an adjoining hill to