A large village was also seen on Joannet Island, situated, like the other, on the brow of a hill in a commanding position.
COMMUNICATE WITH NATIVES OF PIG ISLAND.
Five of our party landed about half a mile from where the canoe had disappeared, apparently in some creek of a mangrove swamp; while walking along the muddy shore we were met by about a dozen natives, who gradually fell back as we approached.

Seeing them apparently afraid of our number and weapons--they themselves being unarmed--I left my gun behind, and, advancing alone, holding up a green branch in each hand, was allowed to come up to them.
THEIR APPEARANCE.
They were apparently in a state of great agitation, and very suspicious of our intentions.

The spokesman of the party was much lighter in colour than the others, and I at first fancied he spoke some Malay dialect from the similarity in sound and intonation of his words, nor was it until I had used some of the commonest and least changeable Malay words--as those meaning fire, water, etc .-- without being understood, that I was convinced of my mistake.

Two others of our party were allowed to come up one by one, and some trifling articles were exchanged for various ornaments.
Still they would not suffer anyone with a gun to approach, although anxious to entice us singly and unarmed to their village towards which they were gradually leading us, and where they could be reinforced by another party, whom we saw watching us on the edge of the mangroves.
But it was not considered expedient to waste more time upon the natives, so we turned back and walked along the eastern side of the island one and a half miles, with the boat in company outside.

A small stream of fresh water was found, not sufficient, however, for our wants, nor was the place suitable for the approach of boats.