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resembling the one delivered in the canoes； with the exception that
the Anamoo…moos！ were now somewhat more strenuously insisted upon
than the Lama…Lamas！ We listened in profound silence until the
conclusion of this harangue； when Captain Guy replied by assuring the
chief of his eternal friendship and goodwill； concluding what he had
to say be a present of several strings of blue beads and a knife。 At
the former the monarch； much to our surprise； turned up his nose with
some expression of contempt； but the knife gave him the most
unlimited satisfaction； and he immediately ordered dinner。 This was
handed into the tent over the heads of the attendants； and consisted
of the palpitating entrails of a specials of unknown animal； probably
one of the slim…legged hogs which we had observed in our approach to
the village。 Seeing us at a loss how to proceed； he began； by way of
setting us an example； to devour yard after yard of the enticing
food； until we could positively stand it no longer； and evinced such
manifest symptoms of rebellion of stomach as inspired his majesty
with a degree of astonishment only inferior to that brought about by
the looking…glasses。 We declined； however； partaking of the
delicacies before us； and endeavoured to make him understand that we
had no appetite whatever； having just finished a hearty dejeuner。
When the monarch had made an end of his meal； we commenced a
series of cross…questioning in every ingenious manner we could
devise； with a view of discovering what were the chief productions of
the country； and whether any of them might be turned to profit。 At
length he seemed to have some idea of our meaning； and offered to
accompany us to a part of coast where he assured us the biche de mer
（pointing to a specimen of that animal） was to be found in great
abundance。 We were glad of this early opportunity of escaping from
the oppression of the crowd； and signified our eagerness to proceed。
We now left the tent； and； accompanied by the whole population of the
village； followed the chief to the southeastern extremity of the
island； nor far from the bay where our vessel lay at anchor。 We
waited here for about an hour； until the four canoes were brought
around by some of the savages to our station。 the whole of our party
then getting into one of them； we were paddled along the edge of the
reef before mentioned； and of another still farther out； where we saw
a far greater quantity of biche de mer than the oldest seamen among
us had ever seen in those groups of the lower latitudes most
celebrated for this article of commerce。 We stayed near these reefs
only long enough to satisfy ourselves that we could easily load a
dozen vessels with the animal if necessary； when we were taken
alongside the schooner； and parted with Too…wit； after obtaining from
him a promise that he would bring us； in the course of twenty…four
hours； as many of the canvass…back ducks and Gallipago tortoises as
his canoes would hold。 In the whole of this adventure we saw nothing
in the demeanour of the natives calculated to create suspicion； with
the single exception of the systematic manner in which their party
was strengthened during our route from the schooner to the village。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 19 ~~~
CHAPTER 20
THE chief was as good as his word； and we were soon plentifully
sup。 plied with fresh provisions。 We found the tortoises as fine as
we had ever seen； and the ducks surpassed our best species of wild
fowl； being exceedingly tender； juicy； and well…flavoured。 Besides
these； the savages brought us； upon our making them comprehend our
wishes； a vast quantity of brown celery and scurvy grass； with a
canoe…load of fresh fish and some dried。 The celery was a treat
indeed； and the scurvy grass proved of incalculable benefit in
restoring those of our men who had shown symptoms of disease。 In a
very short time we had not a single person on the sick…list。 We had
also plenty of other kinds of fresh provisions； among which may be
mentioned a species of shellfish resembling the mussel in shape； but
with the taste of an oyster。 Shrimps； too； and prawns were abundant；
and albatross and other birds' eggs with dark shells。 We took in；
too； a plentiful stock of the flesh of the hog which I have mentioned
before。 Most of the men found it a palatable food； but I thought it
fishy and otherwise disagreeable。 In return for these good things we
presented the natives with blue beads； brass trinkets； nails； knives；
and pieces of red cloth； they being fully delighted in the exchange。
We established a regular market on shore； just under the guns of the
schooner； where our barterings were carried on with every appearance
of good faith； and a degree of order which their conduct at the
village of _Klock…klock_ had not led us to expect from the savages。
Matters went on thus very amicably for several days； during which
parties of the natives were frequently on board the schooner； and
parties of our men frequently on shore； making long excursions into
the interior； and receiving no molestation whatever。 Finding the ease
with which the vessel might be loaded with _biche de mer_； owing to
the friendly disposition of the islanders； and the readiness with
which they would render us assistance in collecting it； Captain Guy
resolved to enter into negotiations with Too…wit for the erection of
suitable houses in which to cure the article； and for the services of
himself and tribe in gathering as much as possible； while he himself
took advantage of the fine weather to prosecute his voyage to the
southward。 Upon mentioning this project to the chief he seemed very
willing to enter into an agreement。 A bargain was accordingly struck；
perfectly satisfactory to both parties； by which it was arranged
that； after making the necessary preparations； such as laying off the
proper grounds； erecting a portion of the buildings； and doing some
other work in which the whole of our crew would be required； the
schooner should proceed on her route； leaving three of her men on the
island to superintend the fulfilment of the project； and instruct the
natives in drying the _biche de mer_。 In regard to terms； these were
made to depend upon the exertions of the savages in our absence。 They
were to receive a stipulated quantity of blue beads； knives； red
cloth； and so forth； for every certain number of piculs of the _biche
de mer_ which should be ready on our return。
A description of the nature of this important article of
commerce； and the method of preparing it； may prove of some interest
to my readers； and I can find no more suitable place than this for
introducing an account of it。 The following comprehensive notice of
the substance is taken from a modern history of a voyage to the South
Seas。
〃It is that _mollusca_ from the Indian Seas which is known to
commerce by the French name _bouche de mer_ （a nice morsel from the
sea）。 If I am not much mistaken； the celebrated Cuvier calls it
_gasteropeda pulmonifera_。 It is abundantly gathered in the coasts of
the Pacific islands； and gathered especially for the Chinese market；
where it commands a great price； perhaps as much as their
much…talked…of edible birds' nests； which are properly made up of the
gelatinous matter picked up by a species of swallow from the body of
these molluscae。 They have no shell； no legs； nor any prominent part；
except an _absorbing_ and an _excretory_； opposite organs； but； by
their elastic wings； like caterpillars or worms； they creep in
shallow waters； in which； when low； they can be seen by a kind of
swallow； the sharp bill of which； inserted in the soft animal； draws
a gummy and filamentous substance； which； by drying； can be wrought
into the solid walls of their nest。 Hence the name of _gasteropeda
pulmonifera_。
〃This mollusca is oblong； and of different sizes； from three to
eighteen inches in length； and I have seen a few that were not less
than two feet long。 They were nearly round； a little flattish on one
side； which lies next to the bottom of the sea； and they are from one
to eight inches thick。 They crawl up into shallow water at particular
seasons of the year； probably for the purpose of gendering； as we
often find them in pairs。 It is when the sun has the most power on
the water； rendering it tepid； that they approach the shore； and they
often go up into places so shallow that； on the tide's receding； they
are left dry； exposed to the beat of the sun。 But they do not bring
forth their young in shallow water； as we never see any of their
progeny； and full…grown ones are always observed coming in from deep
water。 They feed principally on that class of zoophytes which produce
the coral。
〃The _biche de mer_ is generally taken in three or four feet of
water； after which they are brought on shore； and split at one end
with a knife； the incision being one inch or more； according to the
size of the mollusca。 Through this opening the entrails are forced
out by pressure； and they are much like those of any other small
tenant of the deep。 The article is then washed； and afterward boiled
to a certain degree； which must not be too much or too