hip _Pleiades_ being one of the very
few ships in the Service whose captain still maintained so ancient and
honoured a custom, the discontinuance of which could only be advocated
by common, illiterate persons--such as the blue-jackets themselves.

*****

The frigate was on her way from Valparaiso to Sydney--it was in the days
of Governor Bligh--and for nearly three weeks had been passing amongst
the low-lying coral islands of the Paumotu or Low Archipelago, when
one afternoon in May, 182- she lay becalmed off the little island of
Vairaatea. The sea was as smooth as glass, and only the gentlest ocean
swell rose and fell over the flat surface of the coral reef. In those
days almost nothing was known of the people of the Paumotu Group except
that they were a fierce and warlike race and excessively shy of white
strangers. Standing on his quarter-deck Captain W------ could with
his glass see that there were but a few houses on the island--perhaps
ten--and as the frigate had been nearly six weeks out from Valparaiso,
and officers in the navy did not live as luxuriously then as now, he
decided to send a boat ashore and buy some turtle from the natives.

"If you can buy a few thousand cocoanuts as well, do so, Mr. T.," said
the captain, "and I'll send another boat later on."

*****

The boat's crew was well armed, and in command of the second lieutenant.
Among them was a man named Hallam, a boatswain's mate, a dark-faced,
surly brute of about fifty. He was hated by nearly every one on board,
but as he was a splendid seaman and rigidly exact in the performance of
his duties, he was an especial favourite of the captain's, who was never
tired of extolling his abilities and sobriety, and holding him up as an
example of a British seaman: and Hallam, like his captain, was a firm
believer in the cat.

On pulling in to the beach about a dozen light-skinned natives met them.
They were all armed with clubs and spears, but at a sign from one
who seemed to be their chief they laid them down All--the chief as
well--were naked, save for a girdle of long grass round their loins.

Their leader advanced to Lieutenant T------ as he stepped out of the
boat, and holding out his hand said, "Good mornin' What you want?"

Pleased at finding a man who spoke English, the lieutenant told him he
had come to buy some turtle and get a boatload of young cocoanuts, and
showed him the tobacco and knives intended for payment.

The chiefs eyes glisten