[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

290 WITH NATIVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

kind people, without weapons or suspicion, and with
wreaths of sweet-scented flowers around their heads
and bodies, to incline us to stay. Truly, the sailors
of old were not to blame if they deserted in numbers
on such islands, and preferred the careless native life
- to hard work on board a whaler. Again and again
I seemed to see the living originals of some classical
picture, and more and more my soul succumbed to
the int0xicating charm of the lovely island.

But we could not stay; the steamer whistled, and
we had to leave. A young native was going to
Norfolk Island, and he took leave of his family and
the chief in a manly way which was touching to
witness. He bowed and laid his face on the knees
of some old white—haired men with finely chiselled,
noble faces. They seemed to bless him, then they
raised his head and tenderly pressed their faces
against his, so that their noses touched. The boy
brushed away a tear and then jumped bravely on
board.

When we came on board, the steamer was
crowded with natives, and they refused to leave.
We had to drive them away energetically, and as
their canoes were soon overcrowded, many of them -
jumped into the water with shouts and laughter, and
swam several miles to the shore, floating happily in
the blue sea, with their long hair waving after them
like liquid gold. Thus I saw the last of the dream-
island, bathed in the rays of the setting sun. My
regret was shared by the boy, who stood, still
ornamented with flowers and wreaths, at the stern of