We had hardly got to an anchor, before we were surrounded by a great number of the natives, in sixteen or eighteen canoes, the most of whom were without any sort of weapons.  At first they were shy in coming near the ship; but in a short time we prevailed on the people in one boat to get close enough to receive some presents.  These we lowered down to them by a rope, to which, in return, they tied two fish that stunk intolerably, as did those they gave us in the morning.  These mutual exchanges bringing on a kind of confidence, two ventured on board the ship; and presently after, she was filled with them, and we had the company of several at dinner in the cabin.  Our pease-soup, salt-beef and pork, they had no curiosity to taste; but they eat of some yams, which we happened to have yet left, calling them Oobee.  This name is not unlike Oofee, as they are called at most of the islands, except Mallicollo; nevertheless, we found these people spoke a language new to us.  Like all the nations we had lately seen, the men were almost naked; having hardly any other covering but such a wrapper as is used at Mallicollo*.  They were curious in examining every part of the ship, which they viewed with uncommon attention.  They had not the least knowledge of goats, hogs, dogs, or cats, and had not even a name for one of them.  They seemed fond of large spike-nails, and pieces of red cloth, or indeed of any other colour, but red was their favourite.

[* The particular manner of applying the wrapper may be seen in Wafer’s voyage, who mentions this singular custom as existing, though with some little variation, amongst the Indians of the Isthmus of Darien.  See Wafer’s Voyage, p. 140.]

After dinner, I went on shore with two armed boats, having with us one of the natives who had attached himself to me.  We landed on a sandy beach before a vast number of people, who had got together with no other intent than to see us; for many of them had not a stick in their hands; consequently we were received with great courtesy, and with the surprise natural for people to express, at seeing men and things so new to them as we must be.  I made presents to all those my friend pointed out, who were either old men, or such as seemed to be of some note; but he took not the least notice of some women who stood behind the crowd, folding my hand when I was going to give them some beads and medals.  Here we found the same chief, who had been seen in one of the canoes in the morning.  His name, we now learnt, was Teabooma; and we had not been on shore above ten minutes, before he called for silence.  Being instantly obeyed by every individual present, he made a short speech; and soon after another chief having called for silence, made a speech also.  It was pleasing to see with what attention they were heard.  Their speeches were composed of short sentences; to each of which two or three old men answered, by nodding their heads, and giving a kind of grunt, significant, as I thought, of approbation.  It was impossible for us to know the purport of these speeches; but we had reason to think they were favourable to us, on whose account they doubtless were made.