the
natives have plenty of them, as also of yams and other good roots; but my
men returned without getting anything that I sent them for; the natives
being unwilling to trade with us: yet they admired our hatchets and axes;
but would part with nothing but coconuts; which they used to climb the
trees for; and so soon as they gave them our men they beckoned to them to
be gone; for they were much afraid of us.

The 18th I sent both boats again for water, and before noon they had
filled all my casks. In the afternoon I sent them both to cut wood; but,
seeing about 40 natives standing on the bay at a small distance from our
men, I made a signal for them to come aboard again; which they did, and
brought me word that the men which we saw on the bay were passing that
way, but were afraid to come nigh them. At 4 o'clock I sent both the
boats again for more wood, and they returned in the evening. Then I
called my officers to consult whether it were convenient to stay here
longer, and endeavour a better acquaintance with these people or go to
sea. My design of tarrying here longer was, if possible, to get some
hogs, goats, yams and other roots; as also to get some knowledge of the
country and its product. My officers unanimously gave their opinions for
staying longer here. So the next day I sent both boats ashore again to
fish and to cut more wood. While they were ashore about 30 or 40 men and
women passed by them; they were a little afraid of our people at first;
but upon their making signs of friendship they passed by quietly; the men
finely bedecked with feathers of divers colours about their heads, and
lances in their hands; the women had no ornament about them, nor anything
to cover their nakedness but a bunch of small green boughs before and
behind, stuck under a string which came round their waists. They carried
large baskets on their heads, full of yams. And this I have observed
amongst all the wild natives I have known that they make their women
carry the burdens, while the men walk before without any other load than
their arms and ornaments. At noon our men came aboard with the wood they
had cut, and had caught but 6 fishes at 4 or 5 hauls of the seine, though
we saw abundance of fish leaping in the bay all the day long.

In the afternoon I sent the boats ashore for more wood; and some of our
men went to the natives' houses, and found they were now more shy than
they used to be; had taken down all the coconuts from the