mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i3-011

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concluded that these islands were inhabited. This we soon
confirmed, sighting first three, and then about ten, rather
large boats sailing along the shore, which, upon our approach,
directed themselves toward us.

Reaching to about three cable's lengths [about 1800 feet],
they stopped and stared, with amazement, it seemed, at our
moving enormity. The Captain ordered us to anchor, and to
lower a six-oared skiff, in which he ordered the senior
lieutenant, Ignatev, to meet the savages, and, entering into
friendly relations with them, to try to bring them on the sloop,
or, at least, to bring them as close to it as possible. At
first, all his attempts to approach them were in vain. They
constantly drew away from him in their light boats. Finally,
he and the sailors started to wave white kerchiefs as a sign
of our friendship. Then they, casting off suspicion, approached
the skiff. Lieutenant Ignatev, in order to win their confi-
dence, distributed to them glass beads, pewter rings, and
small mirrors; each one so bestowed expressed his joy by
shouting and clapping his hands. Then they started to trade
with them their weapons, ornaments, and fruit such as coconuts,
bananas, and breadfruit. In the meantime, he slowly approached
the sloop and stopped with them at its side. Here, he invited
them to come aboard, but no inducements could convince the
savages to do so.

Of all the things they saw, they liked best the sailors'
hats of thick soldier's cloth. The pieces of iron that were