They have No Method of reducing their Sails but by Casting off the lower part and rolling it up and should that not answer, as it frequently will not, they must take their Chance and as they Cannot reduce the sail at Head but by Casting it off entirely, for which purpose a man must go to the Mast head, and it would be next to impossible to get them up again from the quick Motion of the Canoe, for which reason they let them stand at all events and had rather Overset, or loose the Mast, then Strike the Sail, and in Squally weather both these Accidents often happen, but they are so accustomed to them that they think nothing of either, tho by being dismasted they are frequently blown off and heard of no more — When they are taken in a Squall they luff Head to it and shake it out, but should the squall Continue too long & the Vessel is like to fall off they all hands Jump overboard & hang her head to windward till the Squall is over, when they get in & steer their Course, but should they not be able to hold her on and she gets overset their First Care is to secure evry thing, and Make their Fish Cloth, Paddles &c. fast and when the squall is past they tow the Canoe round with the Mast head to Windward and making a line fast to the upper part of the Spreet all hands get on the Out rigger, and hauling the head of the Spreet out of the Water and the Wind getting under the Sail lifts it, when they all swing off with their whole weight together [and] right her. Some hands then keep her head to windward till the others free her of the Water and then get in and proceed on their Voyage — this frequently happens on their return from Fishing, when they endeavour to out carry each other till they are overpowerd by the Wind & get overset — of this they think the danger so little that they never require any Assistance except to take in their Cloth, or such things as may receive damage by being long wet, but they frequently loose so much ground as to be forced to run for Morea and somtimes for Hooaheine and Ryeatea and We have known some of them who being dismasted have been 9,12 and 15 days at sea with scarce a

Indigenous Histories