THE CAUSE OF CONFUSION. 189

to complete a nest. During the N.E. trade-wind
they are all alive and fly about briskly; but as soon
as the wind comes round to the S.W., they sit or
lie in their nests in a state of stupor, and show
animation only by a kind of tremulous motion over
their whole body. If their nests were taken away
at that season, the poor birds must inevitably
perish.”

Uhese birds’ nests were the occasion, incidentally,
of no small trouble and danger to the missionaries.
They brought a great number, both of Malays and
Chinese, to the coasts in search of them. These
marauders always caused much confusion and quar-
relling among the otherwise peaceable islanders, by
their knavery and frequent assassinations; and en
one occasion, having conceived a grudge against
Mr Haensel, who, having been appointed temporary
president for the King of Denmark, considered it
his duty to protest against a robbery they wanted
to commit. They threatened to have their revenge
by killing him, and the natives, who knew them
well, said they would be as good as their word.
These poor people, though unimpressed by the re-
ligious teaching of the Brethren, were gratefully
attached to them for all their kindness, and offered
to stay at night and defend them; but not apparently
sharing in the alarm, Haensel dismissed them to
their own homes, and the mission family prepared