they
observed a stream of fresh water. After having had considerable
difficulty in getting ashore, they found a spring in a wood; but
suddenly, as they were about to fill their casks with water, a savage
started up, and they considered it wise to beat a retreat to the boat.

Just as they got there, five or six more savages appeared, but on seeing
them, quickly retired into the wood. Although they had got rid of the
savages, they encountered other adversaries of a more formidable nature,
for they were followed by myriads of black flies, so that they came on
board absolutely covered with them from head to foot. This plague of
flies raged in the ship for three or four days, until by the help of a
good breeze they were blown away. The Dutch naturally called this
island Fly Island, but it is now known as Palliser's Island.

Continuing their course westward, when about one thousand five hundred
and ten leagues from the coast of Peru, they saw a large double canoe
standing towards them. On this a gun was fired to make her heave to.
The people in her not understanding the meaning of the signal, naturally
made off as fast as they could. On this the Dutch sent their boat with
ten musketeers, who fired a volley at her. On seeing the boat approach,
some of the savages leapt overboard, but the rest surrendered without
resistance, on which the Dutch used them kindly, dressing the wounds of
those who were hurt, and saving the lives of some who had leapt into the
sea. Besides the men, there were eight women and several children,--in
all twenty-three persons. They were cleanly looking, of a reddish
colour, and almost naked, wearing only the usual cloth, hung to a belt
in front.

The men wore their long black hair curled, but the women had theirs cut
short. The only articles found on board were a few fishing-hooks: the
upper part was formed of stone, and the other of bone or
mother-of-pearl. They had no water, but satisfied their thirst with the
liquor of a few cocoa-nuts, or with salt water, of which even the
children drank heartily. The canoe was probably bound from one of the
Society Islands to Otaheite.

On the 10th high land was seen on the larboard side, about eight leagues
off, but the _Unity_ was unable to reach it. On the 11th she came up
with another high island, with a second, much lower, about two leagues
to the southward.

About this time another double canoe appeared, which outsailed the
_Unity_. She wa