After getting a supply of water and fuel on board, we started again, going east round Rugged Head to Farm Bay, and well up to the head of the bay, anchoring opposite to Naroopoo.  I landed, and soon had an admiring crowd round me.  I was dressed in white, with black leather boots.  Sitting on a verandah, some, more daring than others, would come up, touch my shirt and trousers, bite their fingers, and run away.  Again and again this was done by the bold ones, who always eyed my boots.  After consultation, one old woman mustered courage, came up, touched my trousers, and finally my boots.  She was trembling all over, but horror of horrors, to add to her fear, lifting my foot, I pulled my boot off; she screamed and ran, some others setting out with her, and did not stop until quite out of sight.

After visiting several villages, and finding that the bay was thickly populated, I went on board.  The following morning many canoes came alongside, and on our getting up steam were much afraid.  It was evident they wanted to show us that they had confidence in us, but it was difficult with the steam up, the snorting and general commotion on board being so great.  We warned them on getting up anchor to clear off.  Why should they?  There was no sail, nor were we going to move.  A commotion aft, canoes with crews clearing away to a very safe distance.  One canoe hanging on is pulled under, a wild shout, a moment’s silence, and then there is a loud roar of laughter, when they see canoe and paddlers appear astern at some distance.  We rounded One Tree Point and could see no entrance to a bay, just a few miles beyond, but since explored and named Lawes Bay.  Keeping on, we anchored outside of the Roux Islands, in a fine safe harbour.  Before leaving our friends at South Cape, they were boasting of having visited some place on the coast, where, on showing their large knives, the natives all left, they helping themselves to a good many things.

We had some difficulty in getting a canoe to come alongside, and it was not until we had fastened a piece of red cloth to a stick and floated it astern, that the first canoe would come near.  The natives approached, picked up the red cloth, and in showing them pieces of hoop-iron, they gradually came near enough to take hold of a piece, look well at it, and finally decide to come alongside.  Once alongside we were soon fraternizing, and on seeing this other canoes came off, and trading for curios began.  Asking the captain to keep on trading as long as possible, I hastened ashore, to see the chief of one of the villages.  As long as trading canoes remain alongside, the parties landing are perfectly safe; care should be taken to get away as soon as possible after the canoes leave the vessel.

The tide was far out when our boat touched the beach.  A crowd met us, and in every hand was a club or spear.  I went on to the bow, to spring ashore, but was warned not to land.  I told them I had come to see the chief, had a present for him, and must see him.