This was
probably the reason for the reports given by the earlier navigators of
the existence of tailed men in these regions.
Some of the natives wore feathers in their hair, and all had fish bones
thrust through the cartilage of the nose, which gave them a ferocious
aspect. Even young boys wore sticks in the same fashion. The women were
attired in petticoats of white tapa cloth, which hung down in strips
from a girdle round their waists.
Before trusting ourselves among these savages we gave them, as peace
offerings, coloured beads and bright pieces of cloth. Our presents were
well received, but immediately on becoming possessed of them the
natives laid them at the feet of a young man who stood apart from the
crowd, surrounded by several tall and fierce-looking savages. From this
we concluded the young man to be the king of the country, though we
wondered he should be so young, as the leadership amongst savages
generally goes to the strongest.
We then showed the natives our water-casks, and, pointing to a stream
close by, made them understand we desired to fill them, to which they
offered no objection, so that we at once began to water the ship.
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