We made signs to them to come aboard, but they were
evidently in doubt whether or not to accept our invitation. We then
threw out to them some small pieces of iron and strings of beads, at
which they showed great satisfaction. These little men appeared to be
an intelligent race. Their bodies were small, but their heads, in
proportion, were large. They wore no beards, but their hair was curly
like the Kafirs, some of them wearing it tied to the neck in a knot,
and others letting it fall loose down to the waist. All of them had
holes through their noses to carry fish bones, polished white. Some
wore strings of human teeth round their necks.
At length, five, bolder than the rest, ventured aboard. They did not
appear to be afraid, and what astonished us most was that they seemed
ready to take charge of us. They made signs that we should go ashore,
and one of them, who appeared to be a chief, attempted to drive
Janstins into the sea by hitting him with a kind of hammer with a
wooden handle, and at one end a black conch shell. Janstins laughingly
disarmed his small antagonist, which seemed to surprise him as well as
the others, and brought them together in consultation.
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