ould accompany
us, to see that the agreement made with them should be faithfully
executed. Fearing that the natives residing on the other part of the
island might come upon us and prevent our going, we took our departure
in the night. We soon found that our boats leaked so badly that it would
be next to madness to proceed, and we returned in the course of the
night. Our unexpected return gave great offence; but we insisted that to
go to sea in that condition would be certain destruction. They at length
consented to assist in repairing the canoe and boat, and to suffer us to
remain long enough to complete our arrangements more to our mind.

We were detained by these operations about a month, and then again took
our leave of the spot where we had remained so long against our will;
though we would not conceal the fact, that the rude kindness of the
natives had so entirely overbalanced their faults, that, on parting with
them, we experienced emotions of regret, and were quite overpowered with
a sense of our obligations to them for the many favors which they had
bestowed upon us. They had regarded and treated us as beings of a higher
order than themselves; and our conduct had inspired them with a
veneration and confidence almost unbounded. As a proof of this, three
of their number were committed to our care, and were entirely willing to
place themselves at our disposal.

Seven of our number now took the canoe, viz., Bouket, Sedon, Andrews,
Hulet, and the three natives. Captain Barnard, Rollins, Nute, and myself
preferred the ship's boat. We were accompanied on our passage the first
day by a large number of the natives. At night, as we had then succeeded
in getting beyond the reef, they left us, and we continued our course.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] The Englishman before mentioned, Charles Washington, told us that
this compass was left there about _thirty_ years before, which was the
time when captain _James_ Wilson, of the ship Duff, was there. But from
circumstances it appeared that he was mistaken as to the time, and that
it was one which had belonged to captain _Henry_ Wilson, who was
shipwrecked there in the Antelope, in 1783, and of whose voyage and
disasters a most interesting and well-known account was published by Mr.
Keate. Its preservation for about fifty years is certainly
remarkable.--_Edit._

CHAPTER VI.

Regret at having undertaken the voyage in boats.--Storm, and damage
in consequence of it.--L