CHAPTER XLIII.
ONE IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS ALTHOUGH, from its novelty, life at Captain Bob's was pleasant enough, for the time; there were some few annoyances connected with it anything but agreeable to a "soul of sensibility." Prejudiced against us by the malevolent representations of the consul and others, many worthy foreigners ashore regarded us as a set of lawless vagabonds; though, truth to speak, better behaved sailors never stepped on the island, nor any who gave less trouble to the natives.

But, for all this, whenever we met a respectably-dressed European, ten to one he shunned us by going over to the other side of the road.

This was very unpleasant, at least to myself; though, certes, it did not prey upon the minds of the others.
To give an instance.
Of a fine evening in Tahiti--but they are all fine evenings there--you may see a bevy of silk bonnets and parasols passing along the Broom Road: perhaps a band of pale, little white urchins--sickly exotics--and, oftener still, sedate, elderly gentlemen, with canes; at whose appearance the natives, here and there, slink into their huts.

These are the missionaries, their wives, and children, taking a family airing.

Sometimes, by the bye, they take horse, and ride down to Point Venus and back; a distance of several miles.