as
seen on the shore beckoning them. First he pointed to the right hand,
by which they knew that they were to sail in that direction; then he
beckoned directly to himself, afterwards to the left, and so on. By
following his directions, they reached the beach in safety. He was a
wild-looking person dressed in a leaf hat, something like the one Ben
had made for himself, with a seaman's tattered jacket, and a kilt of
native cloth. His feet and legs were bare, his hair was long, and hung
down over his shoulders, while in his hand he carried a heavy club,
which he grasped tightly, as if he considered it likely to prove a
friend in need. Notwithstanding his wild appearance, it was easy to
perceive by the colour of his skin, sunburnt as it was, that he was not
a native. He seemed very much surprised at seeing white men on board
the canoe, for he did not appear to have discovered that till they were
on the point of landing. He did not, however, address them, but spoke
to the natives in a language which they understood. Marco inquired of
him whether there were other inhabitants on the island, and whether they
were Christians. He said that there were a great many; that they were
not _Lota_, that is Christians, but that they were a very good sort of
people. They had sent him on to the end of the reef to pilot in the
canoe, he said, and they themselves would soon come to welcome the
strangers. He had scarcely spoken before a large number of wild, nearly
naked savages came out from among the trees. They were armed with
spears and clubs, had long matted hair like a black thatch over their
heads, and were altogether a very forbidding, unattractive set of
beings. Still, from what they said to Marco and the other natives, and
by their actions, they appeared to be friendlily disposed towards their
visitors. It was near evening, and they signified that, if the visitors
would remain overnight, they would the next day bring all the provisions
required, and plenty of calabashes of pure water, which they stated was
to be obtained in the middle of the island. Mr Manners thanked them,
and said that he would remain till the next day. The natives then
invited them to come and sleep on shore; but this Mr Manners declined,
as he preferred sleeping on board the canoe. To allow more room on
board, he said that he would not object to some of his people building
huts of boughs for themselves on the beach, but urged them on no account
to