623
cocoa-nuts. The captain went into a boat and picked them up, giving them in returnfome cloth and other articles. This induced others to come uncjer the Hern and along-side, where their behaviour was infolent and daring. They wanted to carry off everything within their reach; they got hold of the fly of the enfign, and would have tomit from the Staff others attempted to knock the rings off the rudder; but the greateSttrouble they gave them was to look after the buoys of their anchors, which were nofooner thrown out of the boats, or let go from the fhip, than they got hold of them.A few mufquets fired in the air had no effect; but a four-pounder frightened them fomuch, that they quitted their canoes that inftant, and took to the water. But as foonas they found themfelves unhurt, they got again into their canoes, gave them fomehalloos, flourifhed their weapons, and returned once more to the buoys. This putthem to the expence of a few mufquetoon ball, which had the defired effect.Although none were fliot, they were afterwards afraid to come near the buoys;Very foon all retired on Shore, and they were permitted to fit down to dinner undif-turbed.
Towards the evening, after the Ship was moored, the captain landed at the head ofthe harbour, in the fouth-eaft corner, with a Strong party of men, without any oppo-fition being made by a great number of the natives who were affembled in two parties,the one on the right, the other on the left, armed with clubs, darts, fpears, flings andftpnes, bows and arrows, &c. After distributing to the old people (for they coulddistinguish no chief), and fome others, prefents of cloth, medals, &c. he ordered twocalks to be filled with water out of a pond, about twenty paces behind the landing-place, giving the natives to understand that this was one of the articles they wanted.Befides water, they got from them a few cocoa-nuts, which feemed to be in plenty onthe trees; but they could not be prevailed upon to part with any of their weapons.Ihefe they held in constant readinefs, and in the proper attitudes of offence anddefence, fo that little was wanting to make them attack them ; at lead; they thought fo,hy their prefling fo much upon them, and in fpite of their endeavours to keep them°ff. Their early re-embarking probably difconcerted their fcheme, and after that theya il retired.
As they wanted to take in a large quantity both of wood and water, and as whenhe was on Shore he had found it practicable to lay the Ship much nearer the landing-place than She now was, which would greatly facilitate that work, as well as over-aweme natives, and enable them better to cover and protect the working party on Shore ;"'Kh this view, on the 6th, they endeavoured to tranfport the Ship to the place theCa ptain defigned to moor her in. While they were about this, they obferved the^ a tives affembling from all parts, and forming themfelves into two parties, as they didhe preceding evening, one on each fide the landing-place, to the amount of fomehoufands, armed as before. A canoe, fometimes condu&ed by one, and at otheritfies by two or three men, now and then came off, bringing a few cocoa-nuts orPlantains. The captain made an old man, who feemed well-difpofed, understand, bythat they were to lay afide their weapons, took thofe which were in the canoea hc! threw them overboard, and made him a prefent of a large piece of cloth. There' v as no doubt that he understood him, and made his requeft known to his countrymen ;°f as foon as he landed, they obferved him go firSt to the one party, and then to the,. er j nor was he ever after feen with any thing like a weapon in his hand. After, ls ) three fellows came in a canoe under the Stern, one of them brandishing a club,Uh which he Struck the Ship 's fide, and committed other acts of defiance, but at lalte red to exchange it for a String of beads, and fome other trifles. Thefe were fent
down