d to elude our
observation.

My mind was at once made up. Dropping my staff, and tearing open the
package of things we had brought from the ship, I unrolled the cotton
cloth, and holding it in one hand, plucked with the other a twig from the
bushes beside me, and telling Toby to follow my example, I broke through
the covert and advanced, waving the branch in token of peace towards the
shrinking forms before me.

They were a boy and a girl, slender and graceful, and completely naked,
with the exception of a slight girdle of bark, from which depended at
opposite points two of the russet leaves of the bread-fruit tree. An arm
of the boy, half screened from sight by her wild tresses, was thrown about
the neck of the girl, while with the other he held one of her hands in
his; and thus they stood together, their heads inclined forward, catching
the faint noise we made in our progress, and with one foot in advance, as
if half inclined to fly from our presence.

As we drew near, their alarm evidently increased. Apprehensive that they
might fly from us altogether, I stopped short and motioned them to advance
and receive the gift I extended towards them, but they would not; I then
uttered a few words of their language with which I was acquainted,
scarcely expecting that they would understand me, but to show that we had
not dropped from the clouds upon them. This appeared to give them a little
confidence, so I approached nearer, presenting the cloth with one hand,
and holding the bough with the other, while they slowly retreated. At last
they suffered us to approach so near to them that we were enabled to throw
the cotton cloth across their shoulders, giving them to understand that it
was theirs, and by a variety of gestures endeavouring to make them
understand that we entertained the highest possible regard for them.

The frightened pair now stood still, whilst we endeavoured to make them
comprehend the nature of our wants. In doing this Toby went through with a
complete series of pantomimic illustrations--opening his mouth from ear to
ear, and thrusting his fingers down his throat, gnashing his teeth and
rolling his eyes about, till I verily believe the poor creatures took us
for a couple of white cannibals who were about to make a meal of them.
When, however, they understood us, they showed no inclination to relieve
our wants. At this juncture it began to rain violently, and we motioned
them to lead us to some place of shelt