The Sandwich
Islanders, in the mean time, had turned their boat round, and ran
her down into the water, and were loading her with hides and tallow.
As this was the work in which we were soon to be engaged, we looked on
with some curiosity. They ran the boat into the water so far that
every large sea might float her, and two of them, with their
trowsers rolled up, stood by the bows, one on each side, keeping her
in her right position. This was hard work; for beside the force they
had to use upon the boat, the large seas nearly took them off their
legs. The others were running from the boat to the bank, upon which,
out of the reach of the water, was a pile of dry bullocks' hides,
doubled lengthwise in the middle, and nearly as stiff as boards. These
they took upon their heads, one or two at a time, and carried down
to the boat, where one of their number, stowed them away. They were
obliged to carry them on their heads, to keep them out of the water,
and we observed that they had on thick woolen caps. "Look here,
Bill, and see what you're coming to!" said one of our men to another
who stood by the boat.
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