Black and white birds, not quite so large as pigeons, were very plentiful, as also were eggs.

Soon my Yamba had a nice meal ready for me, and then we lay down for a much-needed rest.

After this we steered for a large island some nine or ten miles distant, and as we approached we could see that this one _was_ inhabited, from the smoke- signals the natives sent up the moment they caught sight of us.
As we came nearer we could see the blacks assembling on the beach to meet us, but, far from showing any friendliness, they held their spears poised threateningly, and would no doubt have thrown them had I not suddenly jumped to my feet and made signs that I wished to sit down with them--to parley with them.

They then lowered their spears, and we landed; but to my great disappointment neither Yamba nor I could understand one word of their language, which was totally different from the dialect of Yamba's country.

Our first meeting was conducted in the usual way--squatting down on our haunches, and then drawing nearer and nearer until we were able to rub noses on one another's shoulders.