The Cruise of the 'Rosario' amongst the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz Islands. ... With map and illustrations

Front matter

THE CRUISE OF THE " ROSARIO." ■r&tfr> Frontispiece H. M. S. "ROSARIO" OVERHAULING THE SLAVER " CARL." THE CRUISE OF THE "ROSARIO" AMONGST THE NEW HEBRIDES AND SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS, EXPOSING THE RECENT ATROCITIES CONNECTED WITH THE KIDNAPPING OF NATIVES IN THE SOUTH SEAS. BY ALBERT HASTINGS MARKHAM, COMMANDER ROYAI. NAVY. Witt) jUJlap ant) Jlluatrationa. LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, LOW, and SEARLE, CROWN BUILDINGS, FLEET STREET. IS73- [A 11 rights reserved^ chiswick press: printed by WHITTINGHAM AND WII.KINS, TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE,

Preface

. HE groups of islands lying north of New Caledonia, and between that great island and the Fijis (called the Solomon, Santa Cruz and New Hebrides groups), though very little known, and unsurveyed, have recently attracted much attention. They were alluded to in the Queen's "Speech" of 1872, and have now become objects of special legislation. Thirty years ago they were almost as little known as they were nearly three hun dred years before ; but now the labours of the New Hebrides and Melanesian Missions, the murder of Bishop Patteson, and the almost Preface. VI unheard-of enormities committed by those en gaged in the so-called " Labour Trade" and its attendant organized system of kidnapping, have raised questions which bring the names of these South Pacific groups frequently before the Eng lish public.

The deeds perpetrated by the lawless and unscrupulous ruffians who infest these beautiful islands for the purpose of procuring natives, of both sexes, to work on the Queensland and Fiji cotton plantations, are unequalled for cruelty and treachery. The stories related of them sound almost incredible, yet the evidence of their truth is too clear and distinct to admit of doubt. It is with the object of making this state of things known, that I have prepared for publication the information which I was en abled to collect whilst in command of Her Majesty's ship " Rosario," employed on a cruise amongst these islands. I now venture to present it to the public in this little work, in the hope that it may, in some degree, aid the good cause, by directing a portion of public Preface. VII attention to a question which very closely affects the honour of our country.

In order to make the history of the transactions connected with these islands more complete, I have given some account of their discovery by the Spaniards and of the visits of subsequent Eng lish and French explorers, and have supple mented my own experiences with some details respecting the labours of the missionaries. A. H. M. Frimley Park, March, 1873. IDOL FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. Native Weapons. — rage go. I. Club from Fiji. 2. Stone-headed Club from Wednesday Island, Torres Straits. 3. Club from Aurora Island. 4. Club from Guadalcanal Island. 5 Two-handed Club from Tanna. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Discoveries of Mendana. Page OSITION of the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz Islands — First voyage of Mendana — Discovery of the Solomon Islands — Collisions with the natives ■Return to Peru — Second expedition of Mendana — Discovery of Santa Cruz — Attempt at Colonization — Death of Mendana — His burial — Return of the expedition under the Dona Isabel to Mexico ........ i

Chapter II

Discoveries of Quiros. Voyage of Quiros — Discovery of the Duff group — Treatment of natives — Attempts to found a new city — Encounters with the natives — Failure of the expedition — Reasons for its abandonment — Death of Quiros . . . . . . . . Contents. X Page 45 69

Chapter III

Later Discoveries. Cruise of Carteret in the " Swallow'' — Deplorable condition of his ship — Discovery of the New Hebrides by Bougainville — Voyage of Captain Cook — Officers poisoned by fish — Voyage of La Perouse — Captain Bligh — The "Pandora" — Expedition of D'Entrecasteaux — The " Duff" — Discovery of the fate of La Perouse — Captain D'Urville . . . .27

Havannah Harbour. Sail from Norfolk Island — Work on board — Tanna — Overhauling a slaver — Havannah harbour — New fore-topmast — A duel — Ross Lewin . . .Si Contents. XI Page 91 109 121

Chapter VIII

Atrocities at Nguna. Island of Nguna — Schooner "Fanny" — Massacre by the natives — Rescue of an Englishman's body from the cannibals— Conduct of the natives — Law of the Islanders — Investigation necessary — Serious charge against Mr. Milne— Found to be devoid of truth

Chapter IX

Expedition to Nguna. Expedition to Nguna — Ross Lewin again— Contumacy of the Nguna chiefs — Party fired on by the natives — A village burnt as punishment — Mr. and Mrs. Milne — A skipper in search of his ship — Shot fired over Nguna Island . . . . . . 101

Reef Islands. Sight Santa Cruz Island— Collecting rain water— Man overboard — Lom-lom Island — Volcano of Tinakula ■Overhaul another slaver — Reef Islands — Canoes -Skill of the natives in the management of canoes

Chapter XIV

Nukapu. Island of Nukapu — Mistake of the Bishop of Lichfield — Treachery of the natives — " Rosario's '' boat attacked — A landing necessary — Friendly communications frustrated — Determined hostility of the Islanders— Their village burnt — Remarks — Stone breast-works . . . . . . . -145

Chapter XV

Santa Cruz. Volcano of Tinakula — Santa Cruz Island — Man overboard — Byron Bay — Alarm of the natives — A battle between two tribes — Mode of warfare — Description of the natives — Dress — Ornaments — Huts

Chapter XVI

Banks' Islands. Tapoua Island — Vanikoro — Mota — Vanua Lava — A native clergyman — Value of empty bottles — A good bargain — Taste for dress — Boiling springs — Description of houses — Love of dancing — Santa Maria Island . . . . . . .167

Chapter XVII

Espiritu Santo. Espiritu Santo — Another theatrical entertainment — Partial eclipse of the sun observed — Slaver over- Contents. XIII Page 175 189 199 209 hauled — Cape Lisburn — Massacre of boat's crew of " Wild Duck " — A pig feast — Vasalai — A fine in flicted — Village burnt — Explanations with the Chief —Treatment of the dead — Cannibalism .

Chapter XVIII

Mallicolo. Dialects — Food — Another slaver overhauled — Difficulty of dealing with slave ships — Evidence against schooner " Helen" put on record — Off Mallicolo — Another slaver overhauled — Death of Corporal Marcus — Sandwich Harbour — Christmas day .

Chapter XIX

Hostile Islanders. Pentecost Island — Hostile appearance of the natives — Aurora Island — Treachery of the natives — Murderous assault on the paymaster — Villages burnt as punishment — Signal fires — Volcano on Ambrym Island — Hostile attitude of the natives of Ambrym — A voracious shark — Beauty of the islands .

Chapter XX

Second Visit to Nguna. Havannah harbour — Second visit to Nguna — Excellent effect of previous proceedings — Interview with Chiefs —Kidnapping of an Albino woman — Another slaver overhauled — Accusation of murder against an English captain — Difficulty of proof — Erromango — Dillon Bay — Whaling station — Murder of Missionaries — Kidnappers — Proceedings of schooner " Cambria "—Murder of the Rev. J. D Gordon Contents. XIV Page 223 276

Chapter XXI

Tanna Volcano. Aniwa Island — A missionary's wife — Fotuna Island — Object of the " Rosario's " cruise explained to the chiefs— Sail for Tanna— Port Resolution — Conduct of English settlers — Kidnapping — Volcano of Yasowa — Eruptions — Friendly conduct of the natives

Chapter XXII

New Hebrides Group. The New Hebrides — Volcanic formation — Line of Volcanic activity — Physical appearance of natives — Mode of dressing the hair — Religion — Weapons — Poisoned arrows — Spears — Clubs — Tomahawks — A skilful marksman . . . . . . -235

Chapter XXIII

Restoration of a Stolen Woman. Boat-voyage along the coast of Tanna — Search for the Albino woman — Her liberation — Visit to Kwamare — Hospitality of the Tannese— Third visit to Nguna — Restoration of the Albino woman — Gratitude of the Islanders — Shape a course for New Caledonia — Noumea — Another slaver overhauled — Return to Sydney — Conclusion ...... 245 Appendix A. Account of the Rise and Progress of the New Hebrides Mission . . . . . . . .261 Appendix B. The Queensland Polynesian Labourers Act Appendix C. " The Kidnapping Act, 1872 " . . . . .294 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS M. S. " Rosario " overhauling the Slaver " Carl " . Frontispiece Idol from the Solomon Islands . vii Group of Native Weapons . . viii Necklace of Human Teeth . xvi Comb from Cherry Island ..... xvi Native Combs ....... xvi Group of Islanders on a Plantation . . 46 H. M. S. " Rosario " chasing the Schooner "Marion Rennie" 84 Departure from Nukapu . . . . 151 Conch used as a "Call to Arms" . . -156 Group of Native Women . . . . .164 Natives of the New Hebrides . . . -194 H. M. S. "Rosario" off Aurora Island . . 202 Mount Yasowa, Tanna ...... 230 Native Weapons and Ornaments . . . 240 Seagoing War Canoe ...... 244 Group of Women and Children, New Caledonia 256 Map of the S.W. part of the Pacific including New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, Santa Cruz, and the Solomon Islands .

At end. NECKLACE OF HUMAN* TEETH, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. COMB FROM CHERRY ISLAND. NATIVE COMBS. THE CRUISE OF THE " ROSARIO." Chapter I. Position of the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz Islands — First voyage of Mendana — Discovery of the Solomon Islands — • Collisions with the natives — Return to Peru — Second expedition of Mendana — Discovery of Santa Cruz — Attempt at colonization — Death of Mendana — Return of the expedition under the Dona Isabel to Mexico. EFORE proceeding with the account of the cruise of the " Rosario," it will perhaps be as well to give a slight sketch of the position and early history of these islands. Their history is scarcely known at all, and, except in the meagre abstracts of Dalrymple 1; Position of the New Hebrides 2 and Burney, has slept in manuscripts for well nigh three centuries.

Yet it tells of aspirations as grand as those of Columbus, of enterprises rivalling the achieve ments of the first Conqiustadores, of heroic per severance, and of appalling sufferings bravely endured. It is a page of history which ought not wholly to be forgotten, when we talk and think of those lovely islands in the South Pacific. By referring to the chart, it will be seen that they lie in a N.N.W. and S. S. E. direction, extending over a distance of about 700 miles, and situated between the parallels of 90 45' and 200 16' south latitude, and the meridians of 1650 40' and 1700 30' east longitude. The island of New Caledonia, with the exception of New Zealand the largest island in the Pacific, lies at a distance of about 200 miles to the south-west of the southern portion of the New Hebrides group, and the Solomon Islands are about the same distance due west of the northern part of the Santa and Santa Cruz Islands. 3 Cruz group, while the Fiji Islands are the nearest land to the eastward.

The New Hebrides and Banks Islands, which in reality form one group, consist of about forty islands, besides countless rocks and islets : the largest, Espirito Santo, being about seventy-five miles long by forty broad. The Reef Islands, to the northward of Santa Cruz, occupy an extent of about forty-two miles in a west by north direction ; and to the eastward of these, at a distance of about sixty miles, are the isolated islands of Tecopia, Cherry and Mitre, which belong to no par ticular group, the two former being peopled by a race distinct from that inhabiting the Santa Cruz and New Hebrides Islands, the latter being uninhabited. Having thus briefly described their position, I will now relate the cause which led to their discovery. Columbus, as is well known, founded his belief in the existence of land to be discovered by sailing west, on scien tific arguments.

First Voyage of Mendana. 4 After his grand conceptions had been rea lized, mighty vice-royalties were established along the western shores of the Pacific, and their rulers began to sigh for new worlds to conquer, once more turning to men of science to demonstrate the feasibility of their ideas. Lope Garcia de Castro, a lawyer and a veteran statesman, came out to Peru as Viceroy in 1564. He found the country pacified, and the civil commotions caused by disputes over the distribution of land, which had raged for nearly thirty years, at an end. Hence it was that he found time, amidst the absorbing cares of his government, to turn his mind to the achievement of new discoveries. As one of the councillors of the Indies, he had consulted men well versed in the mathematics, who had assured him that there must be an Australian continent, far away beyond the western horizon.

In consequence of these predictions, as soon as he was installed in his Peruvian governorship, he ordered two ships to be fitted out to make these new discoveries, and to find out the land First Voyage of Mendana. 5 whence Solomon caused gold and ivory, apes and peacocks, to be brought for beautifying his temple and palace at Jerusalem. Castro gave the command of this expedition to his nephew, the gallant young Alvaro Men dana de Meyra, then only twenty-six years of age. But older and more experienced officers accompanied him. The pilot was Hernando Gallego, a native of Coruna, and an accom plished sailor and navigator. Pedro de Ortega, a cavalier from the village of Sesga, near Valencia, was in command of the troops, and a young Portuguese, named Pedro Hernandez de Quiros, who was afterwards destined to con tinue the work himself, was one of the officers.

The precious metals were to be sought for ; so miners who had come from the famous silver mines in Guadalcanal, in sunny Anda lusia, were embarked ; and the presence on board of four Franciscan friars shows that the governor did not forget the higher interests of the hundred men who formed the crews of the two ships. Discovery of the Solomon Islands. 6 On the day of St. Isabel, in the year 1567, the expedition sailed from Callao, the port of the capital of Peru. Its leaders were inspired with ideas scarcely less grand than those which fired the imaginations of the discoverers of the New World. The discovery of Australia, and of the Ophir of Solomon, was in their eyes as grand a project as the conquest of Peru and Mexico. After a voyage of eighty days across the Pacific, the joyful cry of land in sight was heard from the masthead of the foremost ship ; and a long line of mountainous coast was seen, with high peaks stretching far inland, and rich foliage clothing the slopes, while the white beach was fringed with cocoa-nut trees.

Gal lego went away in a boat to sound, and, on the 9th of February, 1568, he piloted the two ships through the reefs into a commodious harbour. It was high noon, yet a bright star was seen ahead, and hence the port was named " St. Isabel of the Star." It is very strange how exactly the descriptions of the people, as found Collisions with the Natives. 7 in Gallego's journal, correspond with those of the present time. He tells us of the same black woolly-headed savages, using the same arms and ornaments, with the same customs, the same modes of building huts, and the same treacherous dispositions. The Spaniards resolved to make a de tailed and complete examination of the country they had discovered ; and for this purpose they built a brigantine drawing little water, so as to explore the inner reefs and passages.

Gallego and the carpenters set to work to fell trees and saw planks, and on the 4th of April, after nearly two months of hard work, the little craft was launched. Meanwhile Ortega, with an adequate force, explored the interior of what proved to be a large island ; he had many encounters with the natives, and destroyed the temples in which, as he supposed, they worshipped serpents and toads. The different tribes were constantly at war with each other, and some of the chiefs brought presents of yams and cocoa-nuts to the Spaniards, Collisions with the Natives. 8 to which once was added the arm and hand of a boy. This, Mendana ordered to be solemnly interred, in presence of the donors ; and Gal lego informs us that they went away with their heads down. The pilot, accompanied by Ortega and some troops, sailed in the brigantine on the 7th of April, and carefully explored all the islands now known as the Solomon Group.

He fixed their positions by observations of the sun for latitude and by cross bearings, and ascertained the native names of many of the islands. The names given to them by the Spaniards were usually those of the saints on whose days they were discovered ; but one was called Sesga, after the native place of Ortega, and another, one of the largest in the group, was pronounced by the miners of Guadalcanal to hold out a promise of a yield of gold and silver, and it therefore received the name of their home in Andalusia. The conduct of the Spaniards, in their intercourse with the islanders, was not otherwise than humane. Return to Pent. 9 They always seem to have endeavoured to conciliate them, and they were invariably dis missed with presents. But the natural treachery of the natives rendered numerous collisions in evitable, and during the five months of their cruise among the islands, the loss of life, owing to these interminable broils, was very considerable on both sides.

The worthy Spanish pilot, however, had peculiar notions respecting a fair bargain. His trading consisted in seizing canoes, and giving them back again in exchange for pigs and poultry : so it is not to be wondered at that retaliation on the part of the natives should have been resorted to. At length, after a long voyage, the ships were brought back to the Peruvian coast, after what must, on the whole, be considered a very successful expedition. They had thoroughly explored a group of large and important islands, which have never been so exhaustively examined since their time, and the names on the charts of the present day are those given Second Expedition of Mendana. 10 by Gallego. But they are by no means cor rectly placed, and, until the Solomon Islands are regularly surveyed, the work of Gallego must be used.

It is therefore desirable that all the information in his journal, which is still in manuscript,1 should be tabulated and utilized for new editions of the Admiralty charts. Young Mendana fully believed that he had discovered the Ophir of Solomon, and it was now his great ambition to colonize it, and thus add to the vast possessions of his master. But his uncle had returned to Spain, and he had to wait for a quarter of a century before he could induce the authorities to listen to his enthusiastic proposals. At last the gallant Marquis of Cahete, a scion of the great house 1 The original manuscript of the journal of the pilot Gallego is in the possession of Mr. Amhurst, of Didlington Hall, and there is a later copy in the British Museum. Mr. Amhurst has undertaken to translate and edit Gallego's journal, together with other accounts of the voyages of Mendana and Quiros, for the Hakluyt Society.

The volume will be most interesting and useful to naval officers serving on the Australian station. Discovery of Santa Cruz. 11 of Mendoza, became Viceroy of Peru, and en tered warmly into the plans of Mendana. The new expedition was for the purpose of attempting the colonization of the Solomon Islands, and, with this view, married couples were enlisted in the Peruvian coast valleys. Mendana was accompanied by his wife, Doha Isabel Barretto, and her brother Don Lorenzo ; and the chief .pilot was Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, who had been in the first voyage, and was now " an officer of known worth, ex perienced in all the perils of the sea, and learned in many things of the heavens apper taining to navigation." The four hundred souls, comprising soldiers, sailors and emi grants, who formed this expedition, embarked in four vessels classed as the " Almiranta," the " Capitana," the " Galeota," and the " Fragata ;" and they sailed from the Peruvian port of Payta on the 16th of June, 1595.

After discovering the Marquesas, they sighted land on the 7th of September, which Mendana at first believed to be the longed- Attempt at Colonization. 12 for Solomon Islands. There was a high hill rising out of the sea, with volumes of smoke rolling from its summit, and more extensive land to the south. The voyagers were at once reminded of the volcanic peak in the Canary Islands, and named the land Santa Cruz. Here Mendana resolved to form his colony, although he soon found that he had stopped short of the Solomon group. The great standard of Castille was hoisted in a bay which was named Graciosa ; the natives were either conciliated or chastised, trees were felled, and the erection of a town was commenced. The " Fragata " was sent to sail round the Island of Santa Cruz, and to visit the Reef Islands ; and here is recorded the first instance of that practice which has now reached such a height, for at the latter place she is said to have " kidnapped " eight boys.

Affairs in the infant colony did not progress favourably from the very first. The islanders were hostile, and several Spaniards were wounded with poisoned arrows. Change of Death of Mendana. 13 climate and diet, hard work in the sun, wet clothes, and sleeping on the damp ground, brought on diseases ; many men died in their huts, and a mutinous spirit began to prevail, which was only quelled by resorting to ex treme measures, the master of the camp and two others being executed for insubordina tion. To crown all, Mendana himself fell ill and died, and his death was soon followed by that of his brother-in-law, Don Lorenzo, who fell a victim to the treachery of the islanders. On the 17th of October, the remains of Mendana, the gallant and distin guished explorer, were buried with all possible splendour ; the body was wrapped in a shroud covered with black cloth, and carried to the grave by eight of his principal officers, followed by the soldiers with their arms reversed, to the sound of muffled drums.

He had been em powered by the king to appoint his successor, and his choice naturally fell upon his faithful wife, whom he nominated to the command of the expedition. Return of the Expedition under the 14 Doha Isabel, by the advice of the pilot Quiros, resolved to abandon the ill-omened Island of Santa Cruz, and to continue the voyage in search of the Solomon Islands. The body of Mendana, having been disinterred, was placed on board the " Fragata." But the sickness which raged among the crews soon obliged her to abandon the enterprise altogether, and to bear up for Manilla. The " Almiranta " was lost off the burning volcano ; the " Fragata, " wjth the body of Mendana, was seen to run on a reef with all sail set, and all on board dead; the " Capitana " and " Galeota " reached the Philippines in safety.

But the sufferings of the crews from sickness and the want of wholesome food were appalling. There was a holy hermit, named Juan Leal, on board the " Capitana," whose good deeds should not be forgotten. This old man, who had once been a soldier in Chili, tended the sick, made their beds, gave them medicine and food, and comforted them in death, ever with a kind smile and cheerful face. Dona Isabel to Mexico. 15 As they approached Manilla several died every day. The Governess Isabel must, after the hardships she had undergone, have been lean and ill-favoured ; but her valour and heroism won her a husband at Manilla, with whom she went to Mexico, and the other widows found mates among the colonists of the Philippine Isles. Our knowledge of the second expedition of Mendana is derived from the writings of Quiros, who gives a most accurate and detailed account of the appearance, arms and ornaments, houses, and food of the natives of Santa Cruz.1 These two expeditions effected the discovery of the islands now known as the Solomon and Santa Cruz groups. 1 In a letter to Don Antonio de Morga, Governor of the Philippines.

There is a fuller account, derived from Quiros, in the " Hechos de Don Gai-cia de Mcndoza, Mar ques de Canete, por Christoval Suarez de Figueroa" (Madrid, 1613), lib. vi. For the letter of Quiros to De Morga, see the edition of " De Morga's Philippine Islands," edited by Lord Stanley of Alderley, p. 65. Chapter II. Voyage of Quiros — Discovery of the Duff group — Treatment of natives — Attempts to found a new city — Encounters with the natives — Failure of the expedition — Reasons for its abandonment— Death of Quiros. HE pilot Quiros, upon whose shoulders the mantle of Mendana had now descended, still thirsted for new discoveries. He maintained, on scientific grounds, that there must be a great continent, which he called Australia, to act as a balance in the southern hemisphere ; and, proceeding to Spain, he sent in memo rial after memorial, urging the great benefits which would accrue to the Spanish crown from its discovery and settlement. c Voyage of Quiros. 18 With the example of Columbus before his eyes, he was undaunted by cold receptions, but persevered in his importunity, until at length he obtained a commission to fit out two ships in the port of Callao, and to prosecute the discovery.

He proceeded to Lima, where he received assistance and encouragement from the viceroy of Peru. Two ships were selected, in one of which was the captain, Pedro Fer nandez de Quiros himself, while the other was commanded by Luiz Vaez de Torres ; and on the 2 ist of December, 1605, all hands em barked at the hour of vespers. The brightest anticipations appear to have been entertained for the success of this new voyage of discovery ; and crowds watched the departure of the ships from the mole at Callao. As soon as the foresails were hoisted, salutes filled the air with noise and smoke, and gay banners floated from each masthead and from every flagstaff on shore, while cheer after cheer re-echoed among the shipping. Quiros displayed the royal standard in crimson damask, Discovery of the Duff Group. 19 with fringes of gold, and a representation of Our Lady of Loretto, to whose shrine he had made a pilgrimage.

As soon as they were out of sight of land, Quiros gave a new name to the Pacific Ocean, and christened it " The Gulf of our Lady of Loretto," amidst the loud chaunting of a Te Deum by the Franciscan monks of the expedition. After discovering several islands, one of which has been supposed to be Tahiti, Quiros sighted some reefs, out of which rose hilly islets, where he effected a landing. They are now called the Duff group, and are some miles north-east of Santa Cruz ; but they have never been surveyed since the visit of the Spaniards. Quiros and Torres succeeded in collecting a very large quantity of information from the people of the island called Taumaco, where they landed. The inhabitants were quite unlike the hideous savages of the Solomon Islands and Santa Cruz, being handsome, straight-haired Polynesians.

After a little explanation, they Treatment of Natives. 20 got some idea of delineating a map, and gave the names of a vast number of islands. Captain Cook, many years afterwards, on landing on an island of the New Hebrides group, was much interested at finding that its name of Mallicolo was one of the names in the list obtained by Quiros from the chief of Taumaco. It is sad to find the Spaniards requiting the hospitality they received by " kidnapping" four of the natives to act as inter preters. On other occasions Quiros endeavoured to conciliate the islanders by showing them kindness, but he did this in a peculiar way of his own, which they were unable to appreciate. It never seems to have occurred to him that when attentions are offered by main force they are apt to be considered as insults.

He thought that if a native was made to look like a Spaniard, even against his will, he would be overwhelmed by the honour. So his method was to seize a chief, chain him up, then shave his head, put a wig and hat on him, and a lace doublet, and let him go. Treatment of Natives. 21 The consequence was that collisions were not unfrequent, though the encounters at one or two islands, in what is now known as the Banks group, were entirely due to the trea chery of the natives, who inveigled the Spanish boats within range by waving green boughs, and making other friendly signs, and then discharged poisoned arrows at them. The same treacherous practices are common among these islanders now, so that, with the most peaceful and conciliatory intentions, it is almost impos sible to avoid collisions with them.