e this information here, though I did not obtain it till long
afterwards; indeed, I believe that no one at the time understood how the
island was formed. I asked Mudge, who told me that it was placed there
by Nature, as other parts of the earth had been formed, to give a
pleasing variety to the face of the globe.

"It will afford us anything but a pleasing variety, if we have to sail
through a sea studded with such islands as these," I could not help
observing; "for if we don't keep our eyes open, we shall be running on
them."

"You may well say that, my boy," he answered. "And as they extend for
the best part of two thousand miles across the Pacific, we shall be
lucky if our keel escapes acquaintance with some of them, should the
commander take it into his head to cruise through their midst."

The ship having reached the lee side of the island, a boat was lowered,
and Mudge and I accompanied the first lieutenant to try and open a
communication with the inhabitants,--carrying with us some trifles, such
as beads, small looking-glasses, and other trinkets, furnished us at
home to barter with the natives or to use as presents in order to gain
their good-will. As we pulled in, a number of them appeared on the
beach armed with long spears and clubs, which they brandished with
menacing attitudes, as if they would prevent us from landing. We had
taken Dicky Popo with us, under the belief that, seeing a person of a
darker skin than ours among us, they might be inclined to trust us; not
that it was supposed he could understand their language.

As they still continued waving us off, the lieutenant held up a string
of beads and some other articles. Then, not wishing to risk the safety
of the boat by running her on the coral beach,--on which the surf,
beating heavily, might soon have stove in her bows,--we pulled in as
close as we could venture, and he threw the articles on shore. The
savages eagerly picked them up; but still they did not appear satisfied
as to our friendly intentions, and continued waving us off, shouting, at
the same time, at the top of their voices. As they did not throw their
spears, however, or make any other hostile movements, we remained at a
short distance from the beach, hoping that the presents we had given
them would produce a more amiable state of mind. Still, though we did
all we could to win their confidence, whenever we got a little nearer
they again began gesticulating, showing that they