CHAP. IV

Summary

Having taken leave of our new visitors, who left us with evident symptoms of regret, and impressed with very favourable opinions of our intentions towards them, we stood out to sea, and directed our course to the Bay of Islands, from which we were not now many leagues distant.

I should have mentioned, that in one of the canoes that had visited us, was a woman who remained during the whole time lying prostrate on her face, nor did she once raise her head to look at a single individual, a circumstance which to me was quite unaccountable, as the women in this part of the world never hide their faces from sentiments of bashfulness or timidity. She might probably have been in trouble in consequence of the death of a relation, or some other cause, and expressed her sorrow in this manner; but whatever was the reason, I am fully convinced it was not modest reserve.

I was much pleased with an instance of grateful recollection on the part of Shunghi, to whom, while at Port Jackson, I made some occasional presents. Having brought off with him from the North Cape a handsome war-mat, he presented it to me the moment he got on board, and in so friendly a manner, that I was forcibly struck with the goodness of his heart, while I accepted with pleasure this testimony of his gratitude.