of considerable size and luxuriant aspect. It
consisted of two mountains, which seemed to be nearly four thousand feet
high. They were separated from each other by a broad valley, whose
thick-growing trees ascended a considerable distance up the
mountain-sides; and rich, level plains or meadow-land spread round the
base of the mountains, except at the point immediately opposite the
large valley, where a river seemed to carry the trees, as it were, along
with it down to the white, sandy shore. The mountain-tops, unlike those
of our Coral Island, were sharp, needle-shaped, and bare, while their
sides were more rugged and grand in outline than anything I had yet seen
in those seas. Bloody Bill was beside me when the island first hove in
sight.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "I know that island well. They call it Emo."

"Have you been there before, then?" I inquired.

"Ay, that I have, often, and so has this schooner. 'Tis a famous island
for sandal-wood. We have taken many cargoes of it already--and have
paid for them, too, for the savages are so numerous that we dared not
try to take it by force. But our captain has tried to cheat them so
often that they're beginnin' not to like us overmuch now. Besides, the
men behaved ill the last time we were here, and I wonder the captain is
not afraid to venture. But he's afraid o' nothin' earthly, I believe."

We soon ran inside the barrier coral reef, and let go our anchor in six
fathoms water, just opposite the mouth of a small creek, whose shores
were densely covered with mangroves and tall umbrageous trees. The
principal village of the natives lay about half-a-mile from this point.
Ordering the boat out, the captain jumped into it, and ordered me to
follow him. The men, fifteen in number, were well armed; and the mate
was directed to have Long Tom ready for emergencies.

"Give way, lads!" cried the captain.

The oars fell into the water at the word, the boat shot from the
schooner's side, and in a few minutes reached the shore. Here, contrary
to our expectation, we were met with the utmost cordiality by Romata,
the principal chief of the island, who conducted us to his house and
gave us mats to sit upon. I observed in passing that the natives, of
whom there were two or three thousand, were totally unarmed.

After a short preliminary palaver, a feast of baked pigs and various
roots was spread before us, of which we partook sparingly, and then
proceeded to business. T