try
his luck to-morrow. The morrow comes, but when we pull in the aspect of
the people on shore is so hostile that even Golding acknowledges that we
are not likely to get pearls from them this visit. Captain Fuller,
therefore, resolves to steer south for the Hervey Islands, according to
orders, although, from the accounts I find in Captain Cook's voyages, I
doubt much whether our supercargo will be satisfied with the traffic we
may chance to open up with the natives.

The first island we made is that of Atiu, the same which Captain Cook
calls Wateeoo. It is about seven hundred miles west of Tahiti. We
passed not far from the low island known as Hervey Island, which gives
its name to the whole group.

We now sail round this island of Atiu, in hopes of finding a
landing-place, but none appears--a coral reef surrounds the whole.
Still our bold supercargo is anxious to land, and so while the ship
stands off and on, I take him, with Taro as interpreter, towards the
shore, in the long boat, in which we have a gun mounted. We pull in as
close as we may venture outside the surf. Numerous natives are on the
shore. Taro beckons, and three small canoes are launched. They paddle
swiftly through the surf, and come alongside. Those on the shore stand
waving green branches as a sign of amity, so Golding determines to land
with Taro. Away they go, and as I may not quit the boat, I watch them
anxiously. They land in safety, and vast numbers of the natives
instantly close round them. I see them borne up by the throng away from
the beach, and then lose sight of them. Two hours pass away, and they
do not appear. I begin to dread that they have been cut off. I wait
another hour. Just as I am about to return to the ship, the canoes are
launched. As they approach, to my disappointment I do not see our
shipmates. "The Indians are just thinking that they will knock us on
the head," I hear one of my men say. "It will be our fault if we let
them," I answer, not feeling, however, altogether satisfied that the man
was wrong, yet unwilling to show any fear; "we'll let them know what we
can do if they play us tricks. Hand me the slow match." There was a
clump of palm-trees close down to the beach. I step forward to the gun,
and have the boat's head put towards the shore. On come the Indian
canoes paddling rapidly through the surf--the men shouting and
shrieking, and whirling their paddles round their heads. I am unwilling
t