This poor little woman had a history.  It is told in a few words:  her father sold her to the captain of a trading-vessel for a cask of brandy.  The “extenuating circumstances” in this case are that Oundo had been invited on board the captain’s ship, plied with brandy, and when nearly drunk assented to the shameless bargain.  When Oundo became sober he repented of his act, and the more bitterly because the young girl was betrothed to the young chief of a neighboring tribe.  But he had given his word, and was as great a moral coward as many of his betters are, who think that honor may be preserved by dishonor.  Nearly every coaster has a native woman on board—­some poor girl of low extraction, or some orphan left to the mercy of her chief and sold for a hatchet or a few yards of tawdry calico; but the daughters of chiefs are not thus delivered over to the lusts of Europeans.  The case of Iarat was an exception.  These coasters’ wives, if such they may be called, are said to be very devoted mothers and faithful servants.  All day long they may be seen managing the rudder or cooking in the narrow kitchen on deck.

The vessel in the service of M. Garnier left him at Balarde, near the north-eastern extremity of the island, but, having determined to explore farther north, he applied to Oundo, who furnished him with a native boat or canoe and two men for the expedition.  In this boat were stowed the camping and exploring apparatus and cooking utensils, and three of his men, who were too fatigued by late excursions to follow Garnier on foot.  The canoe was not very large, and this freight sunk it very low in the water; yet as the sea was perfectly calm, no danger was apprehended until, a slight breeze springing up, a sail was hoisted.  The shore-party continued their course, exploring, digging, breaking minerals, etc., generally in sight of the canoe, which M. Garnier watched with some anxiety.  Suddenly, Poulone, his faithful native guide, exclaimed, “Captain, the pirogue sinks!” There was no time to be lost, for one of the men could not swim at all, and the other two but indifferently.  Fortunately, the trunk of a tree was found near the water, some paddles were improvised, and this primitive kind of boat was quickly afloat, with the captain and Poulone on board.  The canoe was some rods from the shore, but the three men were picked up, having been supported meanwhile by their dark companions.  The latter did not swim ashore, but the moment they were relieved from their charges, and without a word, set about getting the canoe afloat.  As to the cargo, it was all in plain sight, but more than twenty feet under the limpid water.  This was a great misfortune.  Some of the instruments were valuable, and could not be replaced.  If not recovered, the expedition to the north of the island must be abandoned.  In this strait Garnier despatched a messenger back to Oundo, asking the old chief to come to the rescue with all his tribe.  “I did not count in vain,” says he, “upon the generosity of this man, for very soon I saw him approach, followed by the young people of his tribe.”  He listened to the recital of the misfortune with every sign of sympathy.