Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/316

260 Next day, about four in the afternoon, being then three miles distant from the shore, we perceived two natives coming towards us in a canoe with an out-rigger. They kept at a great distance till five other canoes had joined them, when they came nearer to our ship. One only of these canoes carried three savages, the others contained no more than two. They addressed their conversation to us, and made signs for us to land upon their island, but none of them would venture on board our ship, notwithstanding repeated invitations to that effect. The boldest of them did not come nearer than about fifty yards. They were armed with bows and arrows, and their whole dress consisted of necklaces and bracelets ornamented with shells.

As night approached, our sailors worked the ship to stand on different tacks, when the savages left us and returned to the coast, but several hours afterwards, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, we were visited by another canoe, the savages in which certainly thought that we understood their language, for they spoke to us for a long time in a very low tone of voice, but, not receiving any answer, they at length returned to their island.

22d. At day-break we approached the coast, and soon perceived twelve canoes making towards