The author describes a hot, silent, and mysterious tropical scene where two men in a canoe move toward a dense forest. The stillness of nature and the dark jungle create a feeling of suspense and hidden danger.
The men were not excited because the forest around them felt strange and silent, filling them with fear instead of joy. The sight of the dead Chinaman also made them uneasy. To divert his mind, Hooker kept talking about their direction and the landmarks, trying to think of ordinary things instead of the growing fear inside him.
The native implement was an L-shaped tool with a transverse piece tipped with polished stone. Evans carried it to dig up the buried treasure.
The narrator means that the sea was completely calm and peaceful, with no visible waves or movement, except for a very slight rise and fall of the water — so gentle that it was barely noticeable.
The men were looking at a map because it showed where the hidden treasure was buried. They had taken the map from two Chinese men and were following it to reach the exact spot.
Their lips were hard and dry because they were exhausted, thirsty, and suffering from the intense heat of the sun during their long journey.