to, in order to receive them. Some of them were manned with seven natives, and others with nine. Having come within 300 toises of our ship, they furled their sail, and used the paddle to make a nearer approach. Each canoe had a commander, who stood on a platform, and gave his orders. When the canoes had paddled about 150 toises, they stopped, and from that distance one of the chiefs addressed us in a speech. His eloquence was wholly lost on us; but the signs with which it was accompanied, did not allow us to doubt that he wished to induce us to land. Probably the paddlers were not permitted to speak; but they joined their signs of invitation to those of the chief.
We endeavoured, on our part, to prevail on them to come nearer our ship. They could not resist the sight of our large pieces of red stuff; and, after appearing to deliberate upon the case, they advanced a little.
Some of our officers imagining that the sound of the bells would be agreeable them, they were immediately rung; but, as several persons had foreseen, the noise, instead of attracting the savages, made them take to flight. They were induced, however, to return, by the sight of several flags which we waved, and by some tunes played by our fiddler.
Presents
