 obtaining from him
a promise that he would bring us, in the course of twenty-four hours, as many of
the canvas-back ducks and Gallipago tortoises as his canoes would hold. In the
whole of this adventure we saw nothing in the demeanor 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.
 

                                   Chapter XX

The chief was as good as his word, and we were soon plentifully supplied 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-flavored. 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 shell-fish 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 negotiation with Too-wit
