Our stripes and stars were a new sight to them, and the sudden advent of our ships in their waters was more than they could comprehend. At night their chief men took counsel together, and came to the conclusion that we were in want of _kam-yum-muru_, or something to eat; so the next morning off came, in a string of canoes, bullocks, pigs, chickens, and vegetables, as presents. These were sent back with the information that we could not receive presents. Become quite uneasy about our presence, they consented to their prince regent’s coming off to the flag-ship, which he did at an appointed hour, with a _suite_ in their canoes. He was well received, and given the cheap salute of three guns, which small compliment he would have preferred to dispense with. They were shown over the ship: the engines were moved for their observation, and they evinced immense surprise: some of the attendants, however, when the great pistons moved, bolted up the hatchway and made for their boats. The higher officers were quite dignified in appearance and demeanor, but the lower class showed a simplicity most childish. They giggled at a looking-glass, and continually felt behind it; a sight through a spy-glass was most puzzling; a wine-glass they held tightly with both hands, and elevated to the forehead before tasting contents; a watch was most miraculous, and as they gathered round they were all wonderment, and imitated its “tick tick;” when the works were exposed to them, their exclamation of surprise was more like one of pain. The contents of the purser’s chest when exposed to them they seemed to think quite shiny and pretty, but evidently were unaware of the value or use of eagles, dollar-pieces, &c. On a chart of the world, in the cabin one day, I showed a number of them their country, and then designating my own, traced the track by which we had come to their island, which they appeared to comprehend. It was quite amusing to see the rapidity with which they would let go the polar handles of a small galvanic battery, which much persuasion and the example of some of the men were first required to get them to take hold of, as soon as it was slightly charged by pushing in the needles. They would drop their hands and rub their wrists in amazement.