tly urged me to throw it away, and with signs
gave me to understand that if I ate it I should swell out to an enormous
size, and die.

We walked about seven miles through bush, and then began the ascent of
one of the spurs of the Astrolabe. On nearing the inland village for
which we were bound, the natives became somewhat afraid, and the leader
stopped, and, turning to Mr. Lawes, asked him if he would indeed not kill
any of the people. He was assured all was right, and then he moved on a
few paces, to stop again, and re-inquire if all was right. When
reassured, we all went on, not a word spoken by any one, and so in
silence we entered the village. When we were observed, spears began
rattling in the houses; but our party shouted, _Maino_, _maino_ (Peace,
peace), _Misi Lao_, _Misi Lao_. The women escaped through the trap-doors
in the floors of their houses, and away down the side of the hill into
the bush. We reached the chief's house, and there remained.

The people soon regained confidence, and came round us, wondering greatly
at the first white men they had ever seen in their village. The women
returned from their flight, and began to cook food, which, when ready,
they brought to us, and of which we all heartily partook. We gave them
presents, and they would not suffer us to depart till they had brought us
a return present of uncooked food. They are a fine, healthy-looking
people, lighter than those on the coast. Many were in deep mourning, and
frightfully besmeared. There are a number of villages close by, on the
various ridges. We returned by a different way, following the bed of
what must be in the rainy season a large river. The banks were in many
places from eight to nine feet high.

On the following morning, November 3rd, we weighed anchor and set sail,
passing Kapakapa, a double village in the sea. The houses are large and
well built. There are numerous villages on the hills at the back of it,
and not too far away to be visited. We anchored off Round Head, which
does not, as represented on the charts, rise boldly from the sea. There
is a plain between two and three miles broad between the sea and the hill
called Round Head. There are many villages on the hills along this part
of the coast. We anchored close to the shore. A number of natives were
on the beach, but could not be induced to visit us on board. We went
ashore to them after dinner. They knew Mr. Lawes by name only, and
became mo