ssantly, "_Taya, taya_"
(friend, friend), and strove to bargain with them for fruits. They
were a handsome, intelligent-looking people; tall, slender, and well
formed, with handsome faces, and complexion little darker than that of
a brunette. The men carried white fans, and wore bracelets of human
hair, with necklaces of whales' teeth and shells about their
necks,--their sole articles of clothing. Both men and women were
tattooed; though the women seemed to content themselves with bands
about the neck and arms, while the men were elaborately decorated from
head to foot. Though some carried clubs and lances, they showed no
signs of hostility, but bore themselves with that simple air of
hospitality and unconscious innocence common to all savage peoples of
tropical regions, uncorrupted by association with civilized white men.

Porter remained but a short time at this island, as its shallow bays
afforded no safe anchorage for the vessels. But, charmed as he was
with the friendly simplicity of the natives, he determined to remain
some time in the vicinity, provided safe anchorage could be found.
This essential was soon discovered at Nookaheevah, where the ships
cast anchor in a fine harbor, which Porter straightway dubbed
Massachusetts Bay. Hardly had the ship anchored, when a canoe
containing three white men came alongside, and was ordered away by the
captain, who thought them deserters from some vessel. The canoe then
returned to the shore, and the three whites were joined by a vast
assemblage of armed natives. Porter now began to fear lest he had
offended the natives, and proceeded at once to the beach, with four
boats well armed and manned. But, by the time the boats' prows grated
upon the white sand, every native had disappeared; and the sole figure
visible was that of a young man, who advanced, and, giving a formal
naval salute, announced himself as Midshipman John M. Maury, U.S.N.
Porter was greatly surprised to find a midshipman in so strange a
place; but the latter explained it by stating that he was on furlough,
and had been left there by a merchant-vessel, which was to call for
him. She had never returned, however, and he now hailed the "Essex" as
an opportunity for escape. A second white man, who then put in an
appearance, naked and tattooed like an Indian, proved to be an
Englishman who had been on the island for years, and who, by his
knowledge of the language and character of the natives, proved of
great assi