discovered.

“The schooner did not bring up, but stood off and on the land under English colours, while a boat was sent on shore to invite the natives on board. I went in her. As soon as we landed, I, with another man, who pretended to be the supercargo, proceeded to the house of the principal chief. It was a large hut, the framework formed of slight poles placed at intervals, bending somewhat inwards, and joined with horizontal poles of the same thickness secured to them, the whole being covered with a neat thatch. We found the chief reclining at his ease on one of several mats which covered the floor, with his wife and other females of the family seated near him. He had thrown aside his robe of native cloth, and was dressed only in his maro or girdle round his waist. We told him that the vessel in the offing was an English trader, and had on board a quantity of goods which were likely to suit him and his people, and we invited him, and as many as he liked to bring with him, to come and inspect them, hinting that the captain was of a generous disposition, and would be glad, at all events, to make them presents to gain their good will. We were in no hurry, we said, for payment, and would call again for the cocoa-nut oil which he might agree to collect for us. He seemed mightily pleased with the proposal, and promised to come off the next morning. We then went to the house of other chiefs and principal people, telling them the same tale.

“In our rambles we saw a curious spectacle. Having reached another district governed by a different chief, we found him seated on a mat in front of his house, while a number of people were approaching bearing hogs, and fowls, and breadfruit, and other articles of food. Among them were three young women, whose bodies were swathed in a prodigious quantity of native cloth made out of the paper mulberry tree. This cloth and the food were being brought as presents to the chief, who had had, we understood, a child just born to him by one of his wives. How the girls could ever have got the cloth round them was a puzzle to me, but my companion, who had been on these islands and acted as interpreter, explained the matter. He said that the cloth being made ready, the girl lies down on the ground and rolls herself over and over, till the whole of the cloth is wound round her. She is then put on her feet, and taking the end over her shoulder, is able to proceed on her way.

“The food having been presented, one of the damsels was led forward, when she lay down before the chief, and began to unroll herself, while one of his attendants gathered up the cloth; and thus she kept turning round and round till the whole of the cloth was unwound, and she remained in her own somewhat scanty garments. The next girl went through the same process.

“We pretended to be delighted with the cloth, and told the chief that, if he would bring it on board, we would exchange it for all sorts of articles. The news of the rich cargo the vessel contained spread among the people, and large numbers promised to come off to us the following morning.

“Well content with the way we had managed matters, we returned on board.

“The following day we took care to stand in towards the shore in good time, when a number of canoes full of people were seen coming off to the ship. As they arrived alongside we invited them on board, taking care that they brought no arms with them. We had a few things spread out in the hold, and as the people collected on board, the captain asked them to step down below to see them. When there, the pretended supercargo kept them engaged bargaining for the goods while others were arriving. Having collected all who could be induced to come on board below, the supercargo slipped up by the fore hatchway, saying that he wished to consult the captain about the price of some of the articles. The vessel, meantime, had been edging off the land. Our guns were loaded, and we had all armed ourselves in case the natives might make any resistance. All being ready, we suddenly clapped the hatches down upon our visitors, and had them prisoners. The people in some of the canoes suspecting that their friends were in danger, attempted to climb up the sides to their assistance. We had, therefore, to sink the canoes by throwing cold shot into them. As several other large canoes were approaching which might prove troublesome, we fired our guns at them and knocked them to pieces. This done, we made all sail, and stood away from the island. When the natives below found themselves entrapped, they, as may be supposed, created a considerable uproar, shouting and shrieking, and demanding to be set at liberty. The hatches, however, being fast closed down, they could not force their way out, and as they were without food or water, and the air was pretty close, we knew that they must soon come to their senses, and therefore took no heed of their cries, though it was necessary, of course, to keep watch over them, lest by chance they might make their way out.

“When we had run the land out of sight, the fore hatch was partly lifted, and a few at a time were allowed to come on deck. They looked greatly astonished when gazing round to find that their native land was not to be seen. Our interpreter then told them that, if they behaved themselves, things would go well with them; but if not, they must expect rough treatment. The first which had come up had their hands lashed behind them, and were sent aft; and the rest, as they appeared on deck, were treated in the same manner. Two or three, from the hot air and the struggles they had made, had lost their lives; but that mattered little, considering the number we had secured.

“Having cleaned and fumigated the hold, they were again sent below, and we stood for another island.

“Of course the people complained of the way they had been treated; some were weeping, others abusing us, while some refused to take the food we offered them. They were told, however, that if they would not eat they should be flogged, for we were not going to allow them to starve themselves to death. In time we got them into pretty good order. As it would not do for them to give way to despair, they were assured that, after working two or three years in the country to which we were taking them, if they were industrious and behaved themselves, and consented to become good Catholics, they would be sent back to their native island much the richer and happier for the trip. I don’t know if they believed us; they might possibly have had doubts about the matter. These people had had missionaries among them, and most of them were Christians; but the French had sent the missionaries away, and they had become somewhat slack in their religion. Now, however, in their trouble they began to pray again, and it was curious to hear them singing, and praying, and repeating parts of the Bible which they had learned by heart. Our interpreter said it made him somewhat uncomfortable; but the captain laughed at him, and told him that he must not let such notions trouble him, and that at best they were only heretics, and would now have the chance of becoming real Christians.

“We touched at several other islands in the neighbourhood, from which canoes full of natives came off towards us to learn who we were, and what we wanted. One canoe came alongside with an old chief, who inquired eagerly whether we had a missionary on board, as he was anxiously looking out for one who had promised to come and teach him and his people to be Christians. The captain wanted the supercargo to pass as the expected missionary, but he declined, saying he could not bring his conscience to do it. The captain replied that the missionary was sick below, but that if the chief and his followers would come up the side, they should see him in the cabin.

“The savages looked very much surprised when they came on deck, to find themselves pinioned and handed down below. Two of them before they were secured, attempted to leap overboard. One was caught and the other was shot, their canoe being sunk alongside that she might not drift on shore and tell tales. The people in some of the other canoes which came off further on were more wary, and we had to use a great deal of persuasion to induce them to trust us. At last, we got one canoe full of natives to come near us. As she approached on the port side, we had two of our boats lowered and manned ready on the starboard side. When, after having in vain tried to get the people on deck, the boats pulled round, and though the savages shoved off, we were too quick for them. There was a fierce struggle, two or three men were knocked overboard, but we captured the rest and quickly had them below hatches, while their canoes, as usual, were sent to the bottom.

“We were not always so successful. Three canoes, one day, were coming off to us, and were nearly up to the schooner, when they took alarm. As the captain did not wish to lose them, he ordered the guns to be fired, which sank two of them, when the boats which were ready pulled away and picked up most of the people, excepting two or three who had been killed by the shot. The third canoe escaped, and we knew after this, there was not much chance of getting any more canoes to come off to us from that island.

“From this place we sailed away for several days, till we sighted a large coral island, with a lagoon in the centre, and numerous cocoa-nut trees growing along the shore. We judged from this that it was inhabited. We stood close in on the lee side, till we could distinguish some low huts scattered about under the trees, and a considerable number of natives scampering along the shore. They were a savage-looking people, without a stitch of clothing, except belts round their waists, and bracelets and shells on their arms and legs, their hair, as they ran, streaming in the wind, while they shook their long thin lances at us. As they had no canoes, we could not get them to come off to the vessel. It was therefore necessary for us to land and try and catch some of them. They looked so fierce and determined that we expected they would give us more trouble than the inhabitants of Easter Island had done. Two boats well armed were, however, sent on shore to make the attempt. We were to proceed by fair means and to offer them trinkets, knives, and glasses, and handkerchiefs. If they would not be induced to trust us, we were to surround their village, and catch as many alive as we could.

“As we pulled in for the shore, a party of the savages, led by an old chief, came leaping, shouting, and shrieking, and brandishing their spears towards us. The chief was a terrible-looking old fellow, taller than any of the rest, with high cheek bones, his hair and beard of long grey hair plaited and twisted together, hanging from his head and around his mouth like so many rats’ tails. His companions imitated his example, and there seemed but little chance of our being able to get hold of any of them by peaceable means. We had our muskets ready to bring them down should they come too near us. We held up the trinkets, and handkerchiefs, and looking-glasses to try to make them understand that we wished to be friendly, but it was of no use; they only shrieked the louder and leapt the higher, and told us to be off, as they did not want us or our goods. However, we remained steady, and they did not venture nearer.

“As our object was to catch them alive, dead savages being of no use to us, we persevered. Having placed several of the articles on the ground, we quietly retired to a distance, and at last we saw two or three of the younger men approach and take the things up. They seemed well pleased with them, and showed them to the rest. On this, we put some more on the ground and again retired, then three of our men putting their muskets on the ground advanced towards the savages, being well covered by the rest of us, and putting out their hands, we presented at the same time several more articles. By these means we began to gain their confidence. We then made them understand that all we wanted was a few cocoa-nuts, and that every man who brought one should be amply paid. In this way after we had waited quietly on the beach, twenty young fellows were persuaded to put themselves within our reach, and to sit down in a circle near the boats. The old chief all the time kept shouting to them, but they did not appear to heed him. While one party with loaded muskets advanced towards the rest of the natives, we suddenly set upon the lads who had brought us the cocoa-nuts, knocked them over, had their arms pinioned, and they were carried to the boats before even their astonished countrymen could attempt to come to the rescue. At last, led by the old chief, the former made a dash at our men who remained, when several were of necessity shot down, the rest taking to flight, and we shoved off well content with having captured twenty stout young fellows, who were likely to prove serviceable labourers at the mines.

“Having at length got a full cargo, we returned to Easter Island, where we landed our captives. There they were to remain under a strong guard till carried away by smaller vessels and landed on different parts of the coast of Peru. We meantime sailed for the westward.

“During the trip we occasionally fell in with our former consorts, engaged in the same business, and we found that they had succeeded in capturing a number of natives from different islands much in the same way that we had done. Some were enticed on board by stratagem, others taken by force. No one engaged in the business was particular as to what means were employed, provided they could succeed in the enterprise. One vessel had taken a whole cargo off one single island, known as High Island, the crew having landed and surrounded the villages one after another, shooting down all who resisted.

“The wealthy merchant who had fitted out the vessel must have been highly satisfied, as must also the English shareholders who advanced him the money. Possibly they may or may not have been fully aware of the means employed to ensure success.

“Whether these people, accustomed to an easy and luxurious life on their sunny islands, would ultimately prove useful labourers in the dark mines, and be able to carry loads of ore down the steep, rocky sides of the mountains, I am not prepared to say. Our business was to catch them—that of the merchant to sell them; while the overseers of the mines had to see to the rest. If they died from hard work that was their look out.

“At length we arrived off Niue, or Savage Island, to which Captain Cook gave that name because the inhabitants were then and for many years afterwards fierce and barbarous in the extreme. Missionaries, both native and English, I had heard say, had gone among them, and the people had all become Christians and civilised. We could see that a well-made road ran round the island, and at intervals there were white-washed cottages, with gardens full of flowers, and neat churches peeping out among the trees.

”‘These people,’ the captain observed, ‘if we could get hold of them, were likely to prove mild and submissive, and of far more value than the savages we had taken from some of the other islands.’ It was necessary, however, to be cautious, or they might have