Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/326

300 which he held in his hand, immediately succeeded his orders, and enforced instant obedience. We did not expect to see a man treated in this manner, in the midst of a crowd of people, who appeared to be so little removed from a state of nature. By way of comforting the poor fellow, our people gave him some bits of red stuff, a few nails, and a knife, with which he was greatly pleased. No sooner had he returned to the island, than curiosity collected all the rest around him, every one wishing to see our presents. Canoes were immediately launched, many natives took to the water and swam, and in a short time there was a great concourse around our boats. We were surprized to see that neither the force of the surf, nor of the breakers, discouraged them from this attempt.

There was another chief distinguished by the same ornaments as he who has been already mentioned; and also by the blows, which he inflicted with his cudgel, on those to whom he gave his orders.

Those islanders, who signified the greatest satisfaction at the sight of our nails, and still more of our hatchets, had some difficulty in perceiving the value of our knives. At first they required them to be shut, before they would receive them; but their fears were very quickly banished, and they