BOOK III.

FROM ULIETEA TO NEW ZEALAND.

CHAP. I.

PASSAGE FROM ULIETEA TO THE FRIENDLY ISLES; WITH A DESCRIPTION OF

SEVERAL ISLANDS THAT WERE DISCOVERED, AND THE INCIDENTS WHICH HAPPENED

IN THAT TRACK.

On the 6th, being the day after leaving Ulietea, at eleven o’clock A. M.

we saw land bearing N. W., which, upon a nearer approach, we found to be

a low reef island about four leagues in compass, and of a circular form.

It is composed of several small patches connected together by breakers,

the largest lying on the N. E. part. This is Howe island, discovered by

Captain Wallis, who, I think, sent his boat to examine it; and, if I

have not been misinformed, found a channel through, within the reef,

near the N. W. part. The inhabitants of Ulietea speak of an uninhabited

island, about this situation, called by them Mopeha, to which they go at

certain seasons for turtle. Perhaps this may be the same; as we saw no

signs of inhabitants upon it. Its latitude is 16° 46ʹ South; longitude

154° 8ʹ West.

From this day to the 16th, we met with nothing remarkable, and our

course was West southerly; the winds variable from the North round by

the East to S. W. attended with cloudy, rainy, unsettled weather, and a

southerly swell. We generally brought to, or stood upon a wind, during

night; and in the day made all the sail we could. About half an hour

after sun-rise this morning, land was seen from the top-mast head,

bearing N. N. E. We immediately altered the course and steering for it,

found it to be another reef island, composed of five or six woody

islets, connected together by sand banks and breakers, inclosing a lake,

into which we could see no entrance. We ranged the West and N. W.

coasts, from its southern to its northern extremity, which is about two

leagues; and so near the shore, that at one time we could see the rocks

under us; yet we found no anchorage, nor saw we any signs of

inhabitants. There were plenty of various kinds of birds, and the coast

seemed to abound with fish. The situation of this isle is not very

distant from that assigned by Mr. Dalrymple for La Sagitaria, discovered

by Quiros; but, by the description the discoverer has given of it, it

cannot be the same. For this reason, I looked upon it as a new

discovery, and named it Palmerston Island, in honour of Lord Palmerston,

one of the Lords of the Admiralty. It is situated in latitude 18° 4ʹ

South, longitude 163° 10ʹ West.

At four o’clock in the afternoon we left this isle, and resumed our

course to the W. by S. with a fine steady gale easterly, till noon on

the 20th, at which time, being in latitude 18° 50ʹ, longitude 168° 52ʹ,

we thought we saw land to S. S. W. and hauled up for it accordingly. But

two hours after, we discovered our mistake, and resumed our course W. by

S. Soon after we saw land from the mast-head in the same direction; and,

as we drew nearer, found it to be an island which, at five o’clock, bore

West, distant five leagues. Here we spent the night plying under the

top-sails; and, at day-break next morning, bore away, steering for the

northern point, and ranging the West coast at the distance of one mile,

till near noon. Then, perceiving some people on the shore, and landing

seeming to be easy, we brought to, and hoisted out two boats, with which

I put off to the land, accompanied by some of the officers and

gentlemen. As we drew near the shore, some of the inhabitants, who were

on the rocks, retired to the woods, to meet us, as we supposed; and we

afterwards found our conjectures right. We landed with ease in a small

creek, and took post on a high rock to prevent a surprise. Here we

displayed our colours, and Mr. Forster and his party began to collect

plants, &c. The coast was so over-run with woods, bushes, plants,

stones, &c. that we could not see forty yards round us. I took two men,

and with them entered a kind of chasm, which opened a way into the

woods. We had not gone far before we heard the natives approaching; upon

which I called to Mr. Forster to retire to the party, as I did likewise.

We had no sooner joined, than the islanders appeared at the entrance of

a chasm not a stone’s-throw from us. We began to speak, and make all the

friendly signs we could think of to them, which they answered by

menaces; and one of two men, who were advanced before the rest, threw a

stone, which struck Mr. Sparrman on the arm. Upon this two musquets were

fired, without order, which made them all retire under cover of the

woods; and we saw them no more.

After waiting some little time, and till we were satisfied nothing was

to be done here, the country being so over-run with bushes, that it was

hardly possible to come to parly with them, we embarked and proceeded

down along shore, in hopes of meeting with better success in another

place. After ranging the coast for some miles without seeing a living

soul, or any convenient landing-place, we at length came before a small

beach, on which lay four canoes. Here we landed by means of a little

creek, formed by the flat rocks before it, with a view of just looking

at the canoes, and to leave some medals, nails, &c. in them; for not a

soul was to be seen. The situation of this place was to us worse than

the former. A flat rock lay next the sea; behind it a narrow stone

beach; this was bounded by a perpendicular rocky cliff of unequal

height, whose top was covered with shrubs; two deep and narrow chasms in

the cliff seemed to open a communication into the country. In, or before

one of these, lay the four canoes which we were going to look at; but in

the doing of this, I saw we should be exposed to an attack from the

natives, if there were any, without being in a situation proper for

defence. To prevent this, as much as could be, and to secure a retreat

in case of an attack, I ordered the men to be drawn up upon the rock,

from whence they had a view of the heights; and only myself, and four of

the gentlemen, went up to the canoes. We had been there but a few

minutes, before the natives, I cannot say how many, rushed down the

chasm out of the wood upon us. The endeavours we used to bring them to a

parly, were to no purpose; for they came with the ferocity of wild

boars, and threw their darts. Two or three musquets, discharged in the

air, did not hinder one of them from advancing still farther, and

throwing another dart, or rather a spear, which passed close over my

shoulder. His courage would have cost him his life, had not my musquet

missed fire; for I was not five paces from him, when he threw his spear,

and had resolved to shoot him to save myself. I was glad afterwards that

it happened as it did. At this instant, our men on the rock began to

fire at others who appeared on the heights, which abated the ardour of

the party we were engaged with, and gave us time to join our people,

when I caused the firing to cease. The last discharge sent all the

islanders to the woods, from whence they did not return so long as we

remained. We did not know that any were hurt. It was remarkable, that

when I joined our party, I tried my musquet in the air, and it went off

as well as a piece could do. Seeing no good was to be got with these

people, or at the isle, as having no port, we returned on board, and

having hoisted in the boats, made sail to W. S. W. I had forgot to

mention, in its proper order, that having put ashore a little before we

came to this last place, three or four of us went upon the cliffs, where

we found the country, as before, nothing but coral rocks, all over-run

with bushes; so that it was hardly possible to penetrate into it, and we

embarked again with intent to return directly on board, till we saw the

canoes; being directed to the place by the opinion of some of us, who

thought they heard some people.

The conduct and aspect of these islanders occasioned my naming it Savage

Island. It is situated in the latitude 19° 1ʹ South, longitude 169° 37ʹ

West. It is about eleven leagues in circuit; of a round form, and good

height; and hath deep waters close to its shores. All the sea-coast, and

as far inland as we could see, is wholly covered with trees, shrubs, &c.

amongst which were some cocoa-nut trees; but what the interior parts may

produce, we know not. To judge of the whole garment by the skirts, it

cannot produce much; for so much as we saw of it consisted wholly of

coral rocks, all over-run with wood and bushes. Not a bit of soil was to

be seen; the rocks alone supplying the trees with humidity. If these

coral rocks were first formed in the sea by animals, how came they

thrown up to such a height? Has this island been raised by an

earthquake? Or has the sea receded from it? Some philosophers have

attempted to account for the formation of low isles, such as are in this

sea; but I do not know that any thing has been said of high islands, or

such as I have been speaking of. In this island, not only the loose

rocks which cover the surface, but the cliffs which bound the shores,

are of coral stone, which the continual beating of the sea has formed

into a variety of curious caverns, some of them very large: the roof or

rock over them being supported by pillars, which the foaming waves have

formed into a multitude of shapes, and made more curious than the

caverns themselves. In one, we saw light was admitted through a hole at

the top; in another place, we observed that the whole roof of one of

these caverns had sunk in, and formed a kind of valley above, which lay

considerably below the circumjacent rocks.

I can say but little of the inhabitants, who I believe, are not

numerous. They seemed to be stout, well-made men, were naked, except

round the waists, and some of them had their faces, breast, and thighs

painted black. The canoes were precisely like those of Amsterdam; with

the addition of a little rising like a gunwale on each side of the open

part; and had some carving about them, which shewed that these people

are full as ingenious. Both these islanders and their canoes, agree very

well with the descriptions M. de Bougainville has given of those he saw

off the Isle of Navigators, which lies nearly under the same meridian.

After leaving Savage Island, we continued to steer W. S. W. with a fine

easterly trade-wind, till the 24th in the evening, when, judging

ourselves not far from Rotterdam, we brought to, and spent the night

plying under the top-sails. At day-break, next morning, we bore away

West; and, soon after, saw a string of islands extending from S. S. W.

by the West to N. N. W. The wind being at N. E. we hauled to N. W. with

a view of discovering more distinctly the isles in that quarter; but,

presently after, we discovered a reef of rocks a-head, extending on each

bow farther than we could see. As we could not weather them, it became

necessary to tack and bear up to the South, to look for a passage that

way. At noon, the southernmost island bore S. W.; distant four miles.

North of this isle were three others, all connected by breakers, which

we were not sure did not join to those we had seen in the morning, as

some were observed in the intermediate space. Some islands were also

seen to the West of those four; but Rotterdam was not yet in sight.

Latitude 20° 23ʹ S. longitude 174° 6ʹ West. During the whole afternoon,

we had little wind: so that, at sunset, the southernmost isle bore

W. N. W., distant five miles; and some breakers, we had seen to the

South, bore now S. S. W. half W. Soon after it fell calm, and we were

left to the mercy of a great easterly swell; which, however, happened to

have no great effect upon the ship. The calm continued till four o’clock

the next morning, when it was succeeded by a breeze from the South. At

day-light, perceiving a likelihood of a passage between the islands to

the North, and the breakers to the South, we stretched in West, and soon

after saw more islands, both to the S. W. and N. W. but the passage

seemed open and clear. Upon drawing near the islands, we sounded, and

found forty-five and forty fathoms, a clear sandy bottom. I was now

quite easy, since it was in our power to anchor, in case of a calm; or

to spend the night, if we found no passage. Towards noon, some canoes

came off to us from one of the isles, having two or three people in

each; who advanced boldly along-side, and exchanged some cocoa-nuts, and

shaddocks for small nails. They pointed out to us Anamocka or Rotterdam;

an advantage we derived from knowing the proper names. They likewise

gave us the names of some of the other isles, and invited us much to go

to theirs, which they called Cornango. The breeze freshening, we left

them astern, and steered for Anamocka; meeting with a clear passage, in

which we found unequal sounding, from forty to nine fathoms, depending,

I believe, in a great measure, on our distance from the islands which

form it.

As we drew near the south end of Rotterdam, or Anamocka, we were met by

a number of canoes, laden with fruit and roots; but, as I did not

shorten sail, we had but little traffic with them. The people in one

canoe enquired for me by name; a proof that these people have an

intercourse with those of Amsterdam. They importuned us much to go

towards their coast, letting us know, as we understood them, that we

might anchor there. This was on the S. W. side of the island, where the

coast seemed to be sheltered from the South and S. E. winds; but as the

day was far spent, I could not attempt to go in there, as it would have

been necessary to have sent first a boat in to examine it. I therefore

stood for the north side of the island, where we anchored about

three-fourths of a mile from shore; the extremes of it bearing S. 88°

East to S. W. a cove with a sandy beach at the bottom of it S. 50° East.

CHAP. II.

RECEPTION AT ANAMOCKA; A ROBBERY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, WITH A VARIETY OF

OTHER INCIDENTS. DEPARTURE FROM THE ISLAND. A SAILING CANOE DESCRIBED.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE NAVIGATION OF THESE ISLANDERS. A DESCRIPTION OF

THE ISLAND, AND OF THOSE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE

INHABITANTS, AND NAUTICAL REMARKS.

Before we had well got to an anchor, the natives came off from all parts

in canoes, bringing with them yams and shaddocks, which they exchanged

for small nails and old rags. One man taking a vast liking to our lead

and line, got hold of it, and, in spite of all the threats I could make

use of, cut the line with a stone; but a discharge of small shot made

him return it. Early in the morning, I went ashore, with Mr. Gilbert, to

look for fresh water. We landed in the cove above-mentioned, and were

received with great courtesy by the natives. After I had distributed

some presents amongst them, I asked for water, and was conducted to a

pond of it that was brackish, about three-fourths of a mile from the

landing-place; which I suppose to be the same that Tasman watered at. In

the mean time, the people in the boat had laden her with fruit and

roots, which the natives had brought down, and exchanged for nails and

beads. On our return to the ship, I found the same sort of traffic

carrying on there. After breakfast, I went ashore with two boats to

trade with the people, accompanied by several of the gentlemen, and

ordered the launch to follow with casks to be filled with water. The

natives assisted us to roll them to and from the pond; and a nail or a

bead was the expence of their labour. Fruit and roots, especially

shaddocks and yams, were brought down in such plenty, that the two boats

were laden, sent off, cleared, and laden a second time, before noon; by

which time also the launch had got a full supply of water, and the

botanical and shooting parties had all come in, except the surgeon, for

whom we could not wait, as the tide was ebbing fast out of the cove;

consequently he was left behind. As there is no getting into the cove

with a boat, from between half ebb to half flood, we could get off no

water in the afternoon. However, there is a very good landing-place

without it, near the southern point, where boats can get ashore at all

times of the tide; here some of the officers landed after dinner, where

they found the surgeon, who had been robbed of his gun. Having come down

to the shore some time after the boats had put off, he got a canoe to

bring him on board; but as he was getting into her, a fellow snatched

hold of the gun, and ran off with it. After that no one would carry him

to the ship, and they would have stripped him, as he imagined, had he

not presented a tooth-pick case, which they, no doubt, thought was a

little gun. As soon as I heard of this, I landed at the place

above-mentioned, and the few natives who were there fled at my approach.

After landing, I went in search of the officers, whom I found in the

cove, where we had been in the morning, with a good many of the natives

about them. No step had been taken to recover the gun, nor did I think

proper to take any; but in this I was wrong. The easy manner of

obtaining this gun, which they now, no doubt, thought secure in their

possession, encouraged them to proceed in these tricks, as will soon

appear. The alarm the natives had caught being soon over, they carried

fruit, &c. to the boats, which got pretty well laden before night, when

we all returned on board.

Early in the morning of the 28th, Lieutenant Clerke, with the Master and

fourteen or fifteen men, went on shore in the launch for water. I did

intend to have followed in another boat myself, but rather unluckily

deferred it till after breakfast. The launch was no sooner landed than

the natives gathered about her, behaving in so rude a manner, that the

officers were in some doubt if they should land the casks; but, as they

expected me on shore soon, they ventured, and, with difficulty, got them

filled, and into the boat again. In the doing of this, Mr. Clerke’s gun

was snatched from him, and carried off; as were also some of the

cooper’s tools; and several of the people were stripped of one thing or

another. All this was done, as it were, by stealth; for they laid hold

of nothing by main force. I landed just as the launch was ready to put

off; and the natives, who were pretty numerous on the beach, as soon as

they saw me, fled; so that I suspected something had happened. However,

I prevailed on many to stay, and Mr. Clerke came, and informed me of all

the preceding circumstances. I quickly came to a resolution to oblige

them to make restitution; and, for this purpose, ordered all the marines

to be armed, and sent on shore. Mr. Forster and his party being gone

into the country, I ordered two or three guns to be fired from the ship,

in order to alarm him; not knowing how the natives might act on this

occasion. These orders being given, I sent all the boats off but one,

with which I stayed, having a good many of the natives about me, who

behaved with their usual courtesy. I made them so sensible of my

intention, that long before the marines came, Mr. Clerke’s musquet was

brought, but they used many excuses to divert me from insisting on the

other. At length Mr. Edgecumbe arriving with the marines, this alarmed

them so much, that some of them fled. The first step I took was to seize

on two large double-sailing canoes, which were in the cove. One fellow

making resistance, I fired some small shot at him, and sent him limping

off. The natives being now convinced that I was in earnest, all fled;

but on my calling to them, many returned; and, presently after, the

other musquet was brought, and laid at my feet. That moment I ordered

the canoes to be restored, to show them on what account they were

detained. The other things we had lost being of less value, I was the

more indifferent about them. By this time the launch was ashore for

another turn of water, and we were permitted to fill the casks without

any one daring to come near us; except one man, who had befriended us

during the whole affair, and seemed to disapprove of the conduct of his

countrymen.

On my returning from the pond to the cove, I found a good many people

collected together, from whom we understood that the man I had fired at

was dead. This story I treated as improbable, and addressed a man, who

seemed of some consequence, for the restitution of a cooper’s adze we

had lost in the morning. He immediately sent away two men, as I thought,

for it; but I soon found that we had greatly mistaken each other; for,

instead of the adze, they brought the wounded man, stretched out on a

board, and laid him down by me, to all appearance dead. I was much moved

at the sight; but soon saw my mistake, and that he was only wounded in

the hand and thigh. I therefore desired he might be carried out of the

sun, and sent for the surgeon to dress his wounds. In the mean time, I

addressed several people for the adze; for as I had now nothing else to

do, I determined to have it. The one I applied the most to, was an

elderly woman, who had always a great deal to say to me, from my first

landing; but, on this occasion, she gave her tongue full scope. I

understood but little of her eloquence; and all I could gather from her

arguments was, that it was mean in me to insist on the return of so

trifling a thing. But when she found I was determined, she and three or

four more women went away; and soon after the adze was brought me, but I

saw her no more. This I was sorry for, as I wanted to make her a

present, in return for the part she had taken in all our transactions,

private as well as public. For I was no sooner returned from the pond,

the first time I landed, than this old lady presented to me a girl,

giving me to understand she was at my service. Miss, who probably had

received her instructions, wanted, as a preliminary article, a

spike-nail, or a shirt, neither of which I had to give her, and soon

made them sensible of my poverty. I thought, by that means, to have come

off with flying colours; but I was mistaken; for they gave me to

understand I might retire with her on credit. On my declining this

proposal, the old lady began to argue with me; and then abuse me. Though

I comprehended little of what she said, her actions were expressive

enough, and showed that her words were to this effect, sneering in my

face, saying, what sort of a man are you, thus to refuse the embraces of

so fine a young woman? For the girl certainly did not want beauty;

which, however, I could better withstand, than the abuses of this worthy

matron, and therefore hastened into the boat. They wanted me to take the

young lady aboard; but this could not be done, as I had given strict

orders, before I went ashore, to suffer no woman, on any pretence

whatever, to come into the ship, for reasons which I shall mention in

another place.

As soon as the surgeon got ashore, he dressed the man’s wounds, and bled

him; and was of opinion that he was in no sort of danger, as the shot

had done little more than penetrate the skin. In the operation, some

poultice being wanting, the surgeon asked for ripe plantains; but they

brought sugar-cane, and having chewed it to a pulp, gave it him to apply

to the wound. This being of a more balsamic nature than the other,

proves that these people have some knowledge of simples. As soon as the

man’s wounds were dressed, I made him a present, which his master, or at

least the man who owned the canoe, took most probably to himself.

Matters being thus settled, apparently to the satisfaction of all

parties, we repaired on board to dinner, where I found a good supply of

fruit and roots, and therefore gave orders to get every thing in

readiness to sail.

I now was informed of a circumstance which was observed on board:

several canoes being at the ship, when the great guns were fired in the

morning, they all retired, but one man, who was bailing the water out of

his canoe, which lay along-side, directly under the guns. When the first

was fired, he just looked up, and then, quite unconcerned, continued his

work; nor had the second gun any other effect upon him; he did not stir

till the water was all out of his canoe, when he paddled leisurely off.

This man had several times been observed to take fruit and roots out of

other canoes, and sell them to us. If the owners did not willingly part

with them, he took them by force; by which he obtained the appellation

of custom-house officer. One time, after he had been collecting tribute,

he happened to be lying along-side of a sailing canoe which was on

board. One of her people seeing him look another way, and his attention

otherwise engaged, took the opportunity of stealing somewhat out of his

canoe; they then put off, and set their sail; but the man, perceiving

the trick they had played him, darted after them, and having soon got on

board their canoe, beat him who had taken his things, and not only

brought back his own but many other articles which he took from them.

This man had likewise been observed making collections on shore at the

trading-place. I remembered to have seen him there; and, on account of

his gathering tribute, took him to be a man of consequence, and was

going to make him a present; but some of their people would not let me;

saying he was no _Areeke_, (that is, chief). He had his hair always

powdered with some kind of white dust.

As we had no wind to sail this afternoon, a party of us went ashore in

the evening. We found the natives every where courteous and obliging; so

that, had we made a longer stay, it is probable we should have had no

more reason to complain of their conduct. While I was now on shore, I

got the names of twenty islands which lie between the N. W. and N. E.

some of them in sight. Two of them, which lie most to the West, viz.

Amattafoa and Oghao, are remarkable on account of their great height. In

Amattafoa, which is the westernmost, we judged there was a volcano, by

the continual column of smoke we saw daily ascending from the middle of

it.

Both Mr. Cooper and myself being on shore at noon, Mr. Wales could not

wind up the watch at the usual time; and, as we did not come on board

till late in the afternoon, it was forgotten till it was down. This

circumstance was of no consequence, as Mr. Wales had had several

altitudes of the sun at this place, before it went down; and also had

opportunities of taking some after.

At day-break on the 29th, having got under sail with a light breeze at

West, we stood to the North for the two high islands; but the wind,

scanting upon us, carried us in amongst the low isles and shoals; so

that we had to ply to clear them. This gave time for a great many

canoes, from all parts, to get up with us. The people in them brought

for traffic various articles; some roots, fruits and fowls, but of the

latter not many. They took in exchange small nails, and pieces of any

kinds of cloth. I believe, before they went away, they stripped the most

of our people of the few clothes the ladies of Otaheite had left them;

for the passion for curiosities was as great as ever. Having got clear

of the low isles, we made a stretch to the South, and did but fetch a

little to windward of the south end of Anamocka; so that we got little

by this day’s plying. Here we spent the night, making short boards over

that space with which we made ourselves acquainted the preceding day.

On the 30th at day-break stretched out for Amattafoa, with a gentle

breeze at W. S. W. Day no sooner dawned than we saw canoes coming from

all parts. Their traffic was much the same as it had been the day

before, or rather better; for out of one canoe I got two pigs, which

were scarce articles here. At four in the afternoon, we drew near the

island of Amattafoa, and passed between it and Oghao, the channel being

two miles broad, safe and without soundings. While we were in the

passage, we had little wind and calms. This gave time for a large

sailing double canoe, which had been following us all the day, as well

as some others with paddles, to come up with us.

I had now an opportunity to verify a thing I was before in doubt about;

which was, whether or no some of these canoes did not, in changing

tacks, only shift the sail, and so proceed with that end foremost which

before was the stern; the one we now saw wrought in this manner; the

sail is latteen, extended to a latteen yard above, and to a boom at the

foot; in one word, it is like a whole mizzen, supposing the whole foot

to be extended to a boom. The yard is slung nearly in the middle, or

upon an equipoise. When they change tacks, they throw the vessel up in

the wind, ease off the sheet, and bring the heel or tack-end of the yard

to the other end of the boat, and the sheet in like manner: there are

notches, or sockets, at each end of the vessel in which the end of the

yard fixes. In short, they work just as those do at the Ladrone Islands,

according to Mr. Walter’s description.[1] When they want to sail large,

or before the wind, the yard is taken out of the socket and squared. It

must be observed, that all their sailing vessels are not rigged to sail

in the same manner; some, and those of the largest size, are rigged so

as to tack about. These have a short but pretty stout mast, which steps

on a kind of roller that is fixed to the deck near the fore-part. It is

made to lean or incline very much forward; the head is forked; on the

two points of which the yard rests, as on two pivots, by means of two

strong cleats of wood secured to each side of the yard, at about

one-third its length from the tack or heel, which, when under sail, is

confined down between the two canoes, by means of two strong ropes, one

to and passing through a hole at the head of each canoe; for, it must be

observed, that all the sailing vessels of this sort are double. The tack

being thus fixed, it is plain that, in changing tacks, the vessels must

be put about; the sail and boom on the one tack will be clear of the

mast, and on the other it will lie against it, just as a whole mizzen.

However, I am not sure if they do not sometimes unlace that part of the

sail from the yard which is between the tack and mast-head, and so shift

both sail and boom leeward of the mast. The drawings which Mr. Hodges

made of these vessels seem to favour this supposition, and will not only

illustrate, but in a manner make the description of them unnecessary.

The out-riggers and ropes used for shrouds, &c. are all stout and

strong. Indeed, the sail, yard, and boom, are all together of such an

enormous weight, that strength is required.

The summit of Amattafoa was hid in the clouds the whole day, so that we

were not able to determine with certainty whether there was a volcano or

no; but every thing we could see concurred to make us believe there was.

This island is about five leagues in circuit. Oghao is not so much; but

more round and peaked. They lie in the direction of N. N. W. 1/2 W. from

Anamocka, eleven or twelve leagues distant: they are both inhabited; but

neither of them seemed fertile.

We were hardly through the passage before we got a fresh breeze at

south. That moment, all the natives made haste to be gone, and we

steered to the west, all sails set. I had some thoughts of touching at

Amsterdam, as it lay not much out of the way; but, as the wind was now,

we could not fetch it; and this was the occasion of my laying my design

aside altogether.

Let us now return to Anamocka, as it is called by the natives. It is

situated in the latitude of 20° 15ʹ South, longitude 174° 31ʹ West, and

was first discovered by Tasman, and by him named Rotterdam. It is of a

triangular form, each side whereof is about three and a half or four

miles. A salt-water lake in the middle of it occupies not a little of

its surface, and in a manner cuts off the S. E. angle. Round the island,

that is, from the N. W. to the south, round by the north and east, lie

scattered a number of small isles, sand-banks, and breakers. We could

see no end to their extent to the north; and it is not impossible that

they reach as far south as Amsterdam, or Tongatabu. These, together with

Middleburg or Eaoowee, and Pylstart, make a group, containing about

three degrees of latitude and two of longitude, which I have named the

Friendly Isles or Archipelago, as a firm reliance and friendship seems

to subsist among their inhabitants, and their courteous behaviour to

strangers entitles them to that appellation; under which we might

perhaps extend their group much farther, even down to Boscawen and

Keppel’s isles, discovered by Captain Wallis, and lying nearly under the

same meridian, and in the latitude of 15° 53ʹ; for, from the little

account I have had of the people of these two isles, they seem to have

the same sort of friendly disposition we observed in our Archipelago.

The inhabitants, productions, &c. of Rotterdam, and the neighbouring

isles, are the same as at Amsterdam. Hogs and fowls are, indeed, much

scarcer; of the former having got but six, and not many of the latter.

Yams and shaddocks were what we got the most of; other fruits were not

so plenty. Not half the isle is laid out in inclosed plantations as at

Amsterdam; but the parts which are not inclosed are not less fertile or

uncultivated. There is, however, far more waste land on this isle, in

proportion to its size, than upon the other, and the people seem to be

much poorer; that is, in cloth, matting, ornaments, &c. which constitute

a great part of the riches of the South Sea islanders.

The people of this isle seem to be more affected with the leprosy, or

some scrophulous disorder, than any I have seen elsewhere. It breaks out

in the face more than any other part of the body. I have seen several

whose faces were ruined by it, and their noses quite gone. In one of my

excursions, happening to peep into a house where one or more of them

were, one man only appeared at the door, or hole by which I must have

entered, and which he began to stop up, by drawing several parts of a

cord across it. But the intolerable stench which came from his putrid

face was alone sufficient to keep me out, had the entrance been ever so

wide. His nose was quite gone, and his whole face in one continued

ulcer; so that the very sight of him was shocking. As our people had not

all got clear of a certain disease they had contracted at the Society

isles, I took all possible care to prevent its being communicated to the

natives here; and I have reason to believe my endeavours succeeded.

Having mentioned a house, it may not be amiss to observe, that some here

differ from those I saw at the other isles; being inclosed or walled on

every side with reeds neatly put together, but not close. The entrance

is by a square hole about two and a half feet each way. The form of

these houses is an oblong square; the floor or foundation every way

shorter than the eve, which is about four feet from the ground. By this

construction, the rain that falls on the roof is carried off from the

wall; which otherwise would decay and rot.

We did not distinguish any king, or leading chief, or any person who

took upon him the appearance of supreme authority. The man and woman

before mentioned, whom I believed to be man and wife, interested

themselves on several occasions in our affairs; but it was easy to see

they had no great authority. Amongst other things which I gave them as a

reward for their service, was a young dog and bitch, animals which they

have not, but are very fond of, and know very well by name. They have

some of the same sort of earthen pots we saw at Amsterdam; and I am of

opinion they are of their own manufacture, or that of some neighbouring

isle.

The road, as I have already mentioned, is on the north side of the isle,

just to the southward of the southernmost cove; for there are two on

this side. The bank is of some extent, and the bottom free from rocks,

with twenty-five and twenty fathoms water, one or two miles from the

shore.

Fire-wood is very convenient to be got at, and easy to be shipped off;

but the water is so brackish that it is not worth the trouble of

carrying it on board; unless one is in great distress for want of that

article, and can get no better. There is, however, better, not only on

this isle, but on others in the neighbourhood; for the people brought us

some in cocoa-nut shells, which was as good as need be; but probably the

springs are too trifling to water a ship.

I have already observed that the S. W. side of the island is covered by

a reef or reefs of rocks, and small isles. If there be a sufficient

depth of water between them and the island, as there appeared to be, and

a good bottom, this would be a much securer place for a ship to anchor

in than that where we had our station.

CHAP. III.

THE PASSAGE FROM THE FRIENDLY ISLES TO THE NEW HEBRIDES, WITH AN ACCOUNT

OF THE DISCOVERY OF TURTLE ISLAND, AND A VARIETY OF INCIDENTS WHICH

HAPPENED, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE SHIP ARRIVED IN PORT SANDWICH, IN

THE ISLAND OF MALLICOLLO.—A DESCRIPTION OF THE PORT; THE ADJACENT

COUNTRY; ITS INHABITANTS, AND MANY OTHER PARTICULARS.

On the 1st of July, at sun-rise, Amattafoa was still in sight, bearing

E. by N. distant twenty leagues. Continuing our course to the west, we,

the next day at noon, discovered land bearing N. W. by W. for which we

steered; and, upon a nearer approach, found it to be a small island. At

4 o’clock it bore, from N. W. 1/2 W. to N. W. by N. and, at the same

time, breakers were seen from the mast-head, extending from W. to S. W.

The day being too far spent to make farther discoveries, we soon after

shortened sail, hauled the wind, and spent the night making short

boards, which, at daybreak, we found had been so advantageous that we

were further from the island than we expected, and it was eleven o’clock

before we reached the N. W. or lee-side, where anchorage and landing

seemed practicable. In order to obtain a knowledge of the former, I sent

the master with a boat to sound; and, in the mean time, we stood on and

off with the ship. At this time, four or five people were seen on the

reef, which lies round the isle, and about three times that number on

the shore. As the boat advanced, those on the reef retired, and joined

the others; and when the boat landed, they all fled to the woods. It was

not long before the boat returned, when the master informed me that

there were no soundings without the reef, over which, in one place only,

he found a boat-channel of six feet water. Entering by it, he rowed in

for the shore, thinking to speak with the people, not more than twenty

in number, who were armed with clubs and spears; but the moment he set

his foot on shore, they retired to the woods. He left on the rocks some

medals, nails, and a knife; which they, no doubt, found, as some were

seen near the place afterwards. This island is not quite a league in

length, in the direction of N. E. and S. W. and not half that in

breadth. It is covered with wood, and surrounded by a reef of coral

rocks, which, in some places, extend two miles from the shore. It seems

to be too small to contain many inhabitants; and probably the few whom

we saw may have come from some isle in the neighbourhood to fish for

turtle; as many were seen near this reef, and occasioned that name to be

given to the island, which is situated in latitude 19° 48ʹ South,

longitude 178° 2ʹ West.

Seeing breakers to the S. S. W., which I was desirous of knowing the

extent of before night, I left Turtle isle, and stood for them. At two

o’clock we found they were occasioned by a coral bank of about four or

five leagues in circuit. By the bearing we had taken, we knew these to

be the same breakers we had seen the preceding evening. Hardly any part

of this bank or reef is above water at the reflux of the waves. The

heads of some rocks are to be seen near the edge of the reef, where it

is the shoalest; for in the middle is deep water. In short, this bank

wants only a few little islets to make it exactly like one of the

half-drowned isles so often mentioned. It lies S. W. from Turtle island,

about five or six miles, and the channel between it and the reef of that

isle is three miles over. Seeing no more shoals or islands, and thinking

there might be turtle on this bank, two boats were properly equipped and

sent thither; but returned without having seen one.

The boats were now hoisted in, and we made sail to the west, with a

brisk gale at east, which continued till the 9th, when we had, for a few

hours, a breeze at N. W. attended with squalls of rain. This was

succeeded by a steady fresh gale at S. E. with which we steered N. W.

being at this time in the latitude of 20° 20ʹ South, longitude 176° 8ʹ

East.

On the 15th at noon, being in the latitude of 15° 9ʹ South, longitude

171° 16ʹ East, I steered west. The next day the weather was foggy, and

the wind blew in heavy squalls, attended with rain, which in this ocean,

within the tropics, generally indicates the vicinity of some high land.

This was verified at three in the afternoon, when high land was seen

bearing S. W. Upon this we took in the small sails, reefed the

top-sails, and hauling up for it, at half past five, we could see it

extend from S. S. W. to N. W. by W. 1/2 W. Soon after we tacked and

spent the night, which was very stormy, in plying. Our boards were

disadvantageous; for, in the morning, we found we had lost ground. This,

indeed, was no wonder, for having an old suit of sails bent, the most of

them were split to pieces; particularly a fore-top-sail, which was

rendered quite useless. We got others to the yards, and continued to

ply, being desirous of getting round the south ends of the lands, or at

least so far to the south as to be able to judge of their extent in that

direction. For no one doubted that this was the Australia del Espiritu

Santo of Quiros, which M. de Bougainville calls the Great Cyclades, and

that the coast we were now upon was the east side of Aurora island,

whose longitude is 168° 30ʹ East.

The gale kept increasing till we were reduced to our low sails; so that,

on the 18th, at seven in the morning, I gave over plying, set the

topsails double-reefed, bore up for, and hauled round the north end of

Aurora island, and then stretched over for the Isle of Lepers, under

close-reefed topsails and courses, with a very hard gale at N. E.; but

we had now the advantage of a smooth sea, having the Isle of Aurora to

windward. At noon the north end of it bore N. E. 1/2 N. distant four

leagues; our latitude, found by double altitudes, and reduced to this

time, was 15° 1ʹ 30ʺ South, longitude 168° 14ʹ East. At two o’clock

P. M. we drew near the middle of the Isle of Lepers, and tacked about

two miles from land; in which situation we had no soundings with a line

of seventy fathoms. We now saw people on the shore, and many beautiful

cascades of water pouring down the neighbouring hills. The next time we

stood for this isle, we came to within half a mile of it, where we found

thirty fathoms, a sandy bottom; but a mile off we had no soundings at

seventy fathoms. Here two canoes came off to us, in one of which were

three men, and in the other but one. Though we made all the signs of

friendship, we could not bring them nearer than a stone’s throw; and

they made but a short stay before they retired ashore, where we saw a

great number of people assembled in parties, and armed with bows and

arrows. They are of a very dark colour, and, excepting some ornaments at

their breast and arms, seemed to be entirely naked.

As I intended to get to the south, in order to explore the land which

might lie there, we continued to ply between the Isle of Lepers and

Aurora; and on the 19th, at noon, the south end of the last-mentioned

isle bore South 24° East, and the north end north, distant twenty miles.

Latitude observed 15° 11ʺ. The wind continued to blow strong at S. E.,

so that what we got by plying in the day, we lost in the night. On the

20th, at sunrise, we found ourselves off the south end of Aurora, on the

N. W. side of which the coast forms a small bay. In this we made some

trips to try for anchorage; but found no less than eighty fathoms water,

the bottom a fine dark sand, at half a mile from shore. Nevertheless, I

am of opinion that, nearer, there is much less depth, and secure riding;

and in the neighbourhood is plenty of fresh water and wood for fuel. The

whole isle, from the sea-shore to the summits of the hills, seemed to be

covered with the latter; and every valley produced a fine stream of the

former. We saw people on the shore, and some canoes on the coast, but

none came off to us. Leaving the bay just mentioned, we stretched across

the channel which divides Aurora from Whitsuntide island. At noon we

were abreast of the north end of this latter, which bore E. N. E. and

observed in 15° 28ʹ 1/2. The Isle of Aurora bore from N. to N. E. 1/2 E.

and the Isle of Lepers from N. by W. 1/2 W. to West. Whitsuntide Isle

appeared joined to the land to the S. and S. W. of it; but in stretching

to S. W. we discovered the separation. This was about four o’clock

P. M., and then we tacked and stretched in for the island till near

sunset, when the wind veering more to the east made it necessary to

resume our course to the south. We saw people on the shore, smokes in

many parts of the island, and several places which seemed to be

cultivated. About midnight, drawing near the south land, we tacked and

stretched to the north, in order to spend the remainder of the night.

At daybreak on the 21st, we found ourselves before the channel that

divides Whitsuntide island from the south land, which is about two

leagues over. At this time, the land to the southward extended from S.

by E. round to the west farther than the eye could reach, and on the

part nearest to us, which is of considerable height, we observed two

very large columns of smoke, which, I judged, ascended from volcanos. We

now stood S. S. W. with a fine breeze at S. E., and at ten o’clock,

discovered this part of the land to be an island which is called by the

natives Ambrym. Soon after an elevated land appeared open off the south

end of Ambrym; and after that, another still higher, on which is a high

peaked hill. We judged these lands to belong to two separate islands.

The first came in sight at S. E. the second at E. by S., and they

appeared to be ten leagues distant. Holding on our course for the land

ahead, at noon it was five miles distant from us, extending from

S. S. E. to N. W. by W. and appeared to be continued. The islands to the

east bore from N. E. by E. to S. E. by E., latitude observed 16° 17ʹ

South. As we drew nearer the shore we discovered a creek, which had the

appearance of being a good harbour, formed by a low point or peninsula,

projecting out to the north. On this a number of people were assembled,

who seemed to invite us ashore; probably with no good intent, as the

most of them were armed with bows and arrows. In order to gain room and

time to hoist out and arm our boats, to reconnoitre this place, we

tacked and made a trip off, which occasioned the discovery of another

port about a league more to the south. Having sent two armed boats to

sound, and look for anchorage, on their making the signal for the

latter, we sailed in S. S. W. and anchored in eleven fathoms water, not

two cables’ length from the S. E. shore, and a mile within the entrance.

We had no sooner anchored than several of the natives came off in

canoes. They were very cautious at first; but, at last, trusted

themselves along-side, and exchanged, for pieces of cloth, arrows; some

of which were pointed with bone, and dipped in some green gummy

substance, which we naturally suppose was poisonous. Two men having

ventured on board, after a short stay I sent them away with presents.

Others probably induced by this, came off by moonlight; but I gave

orders to permit none to come along-side; by which means we got clear of

them for the night.

Next morning early, a good many came round us, some in canoes, and

others swimming. I soon prevailed on one to come on board; which he no

sooner did than he was followed by more than I desired; so that not only

our deck but rigging was presently filled with them. I took four into

the cabin, and gave them various articles, which they showed to those in

the canoes, and seemed much pleased with their reception. While I was

thus making friends with those in the cabin, an accident happened that

threw all into confusion, but in the end, I believe, proved advantageous

to us. A fellow in a canoe having been refused admittance into one of

our boats that lay along-side, bent his bow to shoot a poisoned arrow at

the boat-keeper. Some of his countrymen prevented his doing it that

instant, and gave time to acquaint me with it. I ran instantly on deck,

and saw another man struggling with him; one of those who had been in

the cabin, and had leapt out of the window for this purpose. The other

seemed resolved, shook him off, and directed his bow again to the

boat-keeper; but on my calling to him, pointed it at me. Having a musket

in my hand, loaded with small shot, I gave him the contents. This

staggered him for a moment, but did not prevent him from holding his bow

still in the attitude of shooting. Another discharge of the same nature

made him drop it, and the others, who were in the canoe, to paddle off

with all speed. At this time, some began to shoot arrows on the other

side. A musket discharged in the air had no effect; but a four-pound

shot over their heads sent them off in the utmost confusion. Many

quitted their canoes and swam on shore: those in the great cabin leaped

out of the windows; and those who were on the deck, and on different

parts of the rigging, all leaped over-board. After this we took no

farther notice of them, but suffered them to come off and pick up their

canoes; and some even ventured again along-side the ship. Immediately

after the great gun was fired, we heard the beating of drums on shore;

which was, probably, the signal for the country to assemble in arms. We

now got every thing in readiness to land, to cut some wood, of which we

were in want, and to try to get some refreshments, nothing of this kind

having been seen in any of the canoes.

About nine o’clock, we put off in two boats, and landed in the face of

four or five hundred people, who were assembled on the shore. Though

they were all armed with bows and arrows, clubs and spears, they made

not the least opposition. On the contrary, seeing me advance alone, with

nothing but a green branch in my hand, one of them, who seemed to be a

chief, giving his bow and arrows to another, met me in the water,

bearing also a green branch, which having exchanged for the one I held,

he then took me by the hand, and led me up to the crowd. I immediately

distributed presents to them, and, in the mean time, the marines were

drawn upon the beach. I then made signs (for we understood not a word of

their language) that we wanted wood; and they made signs to us to cut

down the trees. By this time, a small pig being brought down and

presented to me, I gave the bearer a piece of cloth, with which he

seemed well pleased. This made us hope that we should soon have some

more; but we were mistaken. The pig was not brought to be exchanged for

what we had, but on some other account; probably as a peace-offering.

For all we could say or do did not prevail on them to bring down, after

this, above half-a-dozen cocoa-nuts, and a small quantity of fresh

water. They set no value on nails, or any sort of iron tools; nor indeed

on any thing we had. They would, now and then, exchange an arrow for a

piece of cloth; but very seldom would part with a bow. They were

unwilling we should go off the beach, and very desirous we should return

on board. At length, about noon, after sending what wood we had cut on

board, we embarked ourselves; and they all retired, some one way and

some another.

Before we had dined, the afternoon was too far spent to do any thing on

shore; and all hands were employed, setting up the rigging, and

repairing some defects in it. But seeing a man bring along the strand a

buoy, which they had taken in the night from the kedge-anchor, I went on

shore for it, accompanied by some of the gentlemen. The moment we

landed, it was put into the boat, by a man who walked off again without

speaking one word. It ought to be observed, that this was the only thing

they took, or even attempted to take from us, by any means whatever.

Being landed near some of their plantations and houses, which were just

within the skirts of the woods, I prevailed on one man to conduct me to

them; but, though they suffered Mr. Forster to go with me, they were

unwilling any more should follow. These houses were something like those

of the other isles; rather low, and covered with palm thatch; some were

inclosed, or walled round with boards; and the entrance to these was by

a square hole at one end, which at this time was shut up, and they were

unwilling to open it for us to look in. There were here about six

houses, and some small plantations of roots, &c. fenced round with reeds

as at the Friendly Isles. There were, likewise, some bread-fruit,

cocoa-nut, and plaintain-trees; but very little fruit on any of them. A

good many fine yams were piled up upon sticks, or a kind of raised

platform; and about twenty pigs, and a few fowls, were running about

loose. After making these observations, having embarked, we proceeded to

the S. E. point of the harbour, where we again landed and walked along

the beach till we could see the islands to the S. E. already mentioned.

The names of these we now obtained, as well as the name of that on which

we were. This they called Mallicollo[2]: the island that first appeared

over the south end of Ambrym is called Apee; and the other, with the

hill on it, Paoom. We found on the beach a fruit like an orange, called

by them Abbi-mora, but whether it be fit for eating, I cannot say, as

this was decayed.

Proceeding next to the other side of the harbour, we there landed, near

a few houses, at the invitation of some people who came down to the

shore; but we had not been there five minutes before they wanted us to

be gone. We complied, and proceeded up the harbour in order to sound it,

and to look for fresh water, of which, as yet, we had seen none, but the

very little that the natives brought, which we knew not where they got.

Nor was our search now attended with success; but this is no proof that

there is not any. The day was too far spent to examine the place well

enough to determine this point. Night having brought us on board, I was

informed that no soul had been off to the ship; so soon was the

curiosity of these people satisfied. As we were coming on board, we

heard the sound of a drum, and, I think, of some other instruments, and

saw people dancing; but as soon as they heard the noise of the oars, or

saw us, all was silent.

Being unwilling to lose the benefit of the moonlight nights, which now

happened, at seven A. M. on the 23d we weighed; and, with a light air of

wind, and the assistance of our boats, proceeded out of the harbour; the

south end of which, at noon, bore W. S. W. distant about two miles.

When the natives saw us under sail, they came off in canoes, making

exchanges with more confidence than before, and giving such

extraordinary proofs of their honesty as surprised us. As the ship at

first had fresh way through the water, several of them dropped astern

after they had received our goods, and before they had time to deliver

theirs in return. Instead of taking advantage of this, as our friends at

the Society Isles would have done, they used their utmost efforts to get

up with us, and to deliver what they had already been paid for. One man,

in particular, followed us a considerable time, and did not reach us

till it was calm, and the thing was forgotten. As soon as he came

along-side, he held up the thing which several were ready to buy; but he

refused to part with it, till he saw the person to whom he had before

sold it, and to him he gave it. The person not knowing him again,

offered him something in return, which he refused, and showed him what

he had given him before. Pieces of cloth and marbled paper were in most

esteem with them; but edge tools, nails, and beads, they seemed to

disregard. The greatest number of canoes we had alongside at once did

not exceed eight, and not more than four or five people in each; who

would frequently retire to the shore all on a sudden, before they had

disposed of half their things, and then others would come off.

At the time we came out of the harbour, it was about low water, and

great numbers of people were then on the shoals or reefs which lie along

the shore, looking, as we supposed, for shell and other fish. Thus our

being on their coast, and in one of their ports, did not hinder them

from following the necessary employments. By this time they might be

satisfied we meant them no harm; so that, had we made a longer stay, we

might soon have been upon good terms with this ape-like nation; for, in

general, they are the most ugly, ill-proportioned people I ever saw, and

in every respect different from any we had met with in this sea. They

are a very dark-coloured and rather diminutive race; with long heads,

flat faces, and monkey countenances. Their hair mostly black or brown,

is short and curly; but not quite so soft and woolly as that of a negro.

Their beards are very strong, crisp, and bushy, and generally black and

short. But what most adds to their deformity, is a belt, or cord, which

they wear round the waist, and tie so tight over the belly that the

shape of their bodies is not unlike that of an overgrown pismire. The

men go quite naked, except a piece of cloth or leaf used as a

wrapper.[3]

We saw but few women, and they were not less ugly than the men; their

heads, faces, and shoulders are painted red; they wear a kind of

petticoat; and some of them had something over their shoulders like a

bag, in which they carry their children. None of them came off to the

ship, and they generally kept at a distance when we were on shore. Their

ornaments are ear-rings made of tortoise-shell and bracelets. A curious

one of the latter, four or five inches broad, wrought with thread or

cord, and studded with shells, is worn by them just above the elbow.

Round the right wrist they wear hogs’ tusks bent circular, and rings

made of shells; and round their left, a round piece of wood, which we

judged was to ward off the bow-string. The bridge of the nose is

pierced, in which they wear a piece of white stone, about an inch and a

half long, and in this shape. [Illustration] As signs of friendship they

present a green branch, and sprinkle water with the hand over the head.

Their weapons are clubs, spears, and bows and arrows. The two former are

made of hard or iron wood. Their bows are about four feet long, made of

a stick split down the middle, and are not circular, but in this form.

[Illustration] The arrows, which are a sort of reeds, are sometimes

armed with a long and sharp point, made of the hard wood, and sometimes

with a very hard point made of bone; and these points are all covered

with a substance which we took for poison. Indeed, the people themselves

confirmed our suspicions, by making signs to us not to touch the point,

and giving us to understand, that if we were pricked by them we should

die. They are very careful of them themselves, and keep them always

wrapped up in a quiver. Some of these arrows are armed with two or three

points, each with small prickles on the edges, to prevent the arrow

being drawn out of the wound.

The people of Mallicollo seemed to be a quite different nation from any

we had yet met with, and speak a different language. Of about eighty

words which Mr. Forster collected, hardly one bears any affinity to the

language spoken at any other island or place I had ever been at. The

letter R is used in many of their words; and frequently two or three

being joined together, such words we found difficult to pronounce. I

observed that they could pronounce most of our words with great ease.

They express their admiration by hissing like a goose.

To judge of the country by the little we saw of it, it must be fertile;

but I believe their fruits are not so good as those of the Society or

Friendly Isles. Their cocoa-nut trees, I am certain, are not; and their

bread-fruit and plantains did not seem much better. But their yams

appeared to be very good. We saw no other animals than those I have

already mentioned. They have not so much as a name for a dog, and

consequently have none; for which reason we left them a dog and a bitch;

and there is no doubt they will be taken care of, as they were very fond

of them.

After we had got to sea, we tried what effect one of the poisoned arrows

would have on a dog. Indeed we had tried it in the harbour the very

first night, but we thought the operation had been too slight, as it had

no effect. The surgeon now made a deep incision in the dog’s thigh, into

which he laid a large portion of the poison just as it was scraped from

the arrows, and then bound up the wound with a bandage. For several days

after, we thought the dog was not so well as he had been before; but

whether this was really so, or only suggested by imagination, I know

not. He was afterwards as if nothing had been done to him, and lived to

be brought home to England. However, I have no doubt of this stuff being

of a poisonous quality, as it could answer no other purpose. The people

seemed not unacquainted with the nature of poison; for when they brought

us water on shore, they first tasted it, and then gave us to understand

we might with safety drink it.

This harbour, which is situated on the N. E. side of Mallicollo, not far

from the S. E. end, in latitude 16° 25ʹ 20ʺ S., longitude 167° 57ʹ 23ʺ

E., I named Port Sandwich. It lies in S. W. by S. about one league, and

is one-third of a league broad. A reef of rocks extends out a little way

from each point; but the channel is of a good breadth, and hath in it

from forty to twenty-four fathoms water. In the port, the depth of water

is from twenty to four fathoms; and it is so sheltered that no winds can

disturb a ship at anchor there. Another great advantage is, you can lie

so near the shore as to cover your people who may be at work upon it.

CHAP. IV.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF SEVERAL ISLANDS, AN INTERVIEW AND

SKIRMISH WITH THE INHABITANTS UPON ONE OF THEM. THE ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP

AT TANNA, AND THE RECEPTION WE MET WITH THERE.

Soon after we got to sea, we had a breeze at E. S. E. with which we

stood over for Ambrym till three o’clock in the afternoon, when the wind

veering to E. N. E. we tacked and stretched to the S. E. and weathered

the S. E. end of Mallicollo, off which we discovered three or four small

islands, that before appeared to be connected. At sun-set the point bore

S. 77° West, distant three leagues, from which the coast seemed to trend

away West. At this time the isle of Ambrym extended from N. 30° E. to N.

65° E. The isle of Paoom from N. 76° E. to S. 88° E. and the isle of

Apee from S. 83° E. to S. 43° East. We stood for this last isle, which

we reached by midnight, and then brought to till day-break on the 24th,

when we made sail to the S. E. with a view of plying up to the eastward

on the south side of Apee. At sun-rise, we discovered several more

islands, extending from the S. E. point of Apee to the South as far as

S. E. by S. The nearest to us we reached by ten o’clock, and not being

able to weather it, we tacked a mile from its shore in fourteen fathoms

water. This island is about 4 leagues in circuit, is remarkable by

having three high peaked hills upon it, by which it has obtained that

name. In the P. M. the wind veering more to the north, we resumed our

course to the east; and having weathered Threehills, stood for the group

of small isles which lie off the S. E. point of Apee. These I called

Shepherd’s Isles, in honour of my worthy friend Dr. Shepherd, Plumian

professor of astronomy at Cambridge. Having a fine breeze, I had

thoughts of going through between them; but the channels being narrow,

and seeing broken water in the one we were steering for, I gave up the

design, and bore up, in order to go without, or to the south of them.

Before this could be accomplished, it fell calm, and we were left to the

mercy of the current, close to the isles, where we could find no

soundings with a line of an hundred and eighty fathoms. We had now lands

or islands in every direction, and were not able to count the number

which lay round us. The mountain on Paoom was seen over the east end of

Apee, bearing N. N. W. at eight o’clock. A breeze at S. E. relieved us

from the anxiety the calm had occasioned; and we spent the night making

short boards.

The night before we came out of Port Sandwich, two reddish fish, about

the size of large bream, and not unlike them, were caught with hook and

line. On these fish most of the officers, and some of the petty

officers, dined the next day. The night following, every one who had

eaten of them was seized with violent pains in the head and bones,

attended with a scorching heat all over the skin, and numbness in the

joints. There remained no doubt that this was occasioned by the fish

being of a poisonous nature, and having communicated its bad effects to

all who partook of them; even to the hogs and dogs. One of the former

died about sixteen hours after; it was not long before one of the latter

shared the same fate; and it was a week or ten days, before all the

gentlemen recovered. These must have been the same sort of fish

mentioned by Quiros[4], under the name of Pargos, which poisoned the

crews of his ships, so that it was some time before they recovered; and

we should, doubtless, have been in the same situation, had more of them

been eaten.

At day-break on the 25th, we made a short stretch to the east of

Shepherd’s Isles till after sun-rise, when, seeing no more land in that

direction, we tacked and stood for the island we had seen in the south,

having a gentle breeze at S. E. We passed to the east of Threehills, and

likewise of a low isle, which lies on the S. E. side of it, between a

remarkable peaked rock which obtained the name of Monument, and a small

island named Twohills, on account of two peaked hills upon it, disjoined

by a low and narrow isthmus. The channel between this island and the

Monument is near a mile broad, and twenty-four fathoms deep. Except this

rock, which is only accessible to birds, we did not find an island on

which people were not seen. At noon, we observed, in latitude 17° 18ʹ

30ʺ longitude, made from Port Sandwich, 45ʹ East. In this situation the

Monument bore N. 16° East, distant two miles; Twohills bore N. 25° West,

distant two miles, and in a line with the S. W. part of Threehills; and

the islands to the South extended from S. 16° 30ʹ E. to S. 42° West.

Continuing our course to the south, at five P. M. we drew near the

southern lands, which we found to consist of one large island, whose

southern and western extremities extended beyond our sight, and three or

four smaller ones, lying off its north side. The two northernmost are

much the largest, have a good height, and lie in the direction of E. by

S. and W. by N. from each other, distant two leagues. I named the one

Montagu, and the other Hinchinbrook, and the large island Sandwich, in

honour of my noble patron the earl of Sandwich. Seeing broken water

a-head between Montagu and Hinchinbrook Isles, we tacked; and soon after

it fell calm. The calm continued till seven o’clock the next morning,

when it was succeeded by a breeze from the westward. During the calm,

having been carried by the currents and a S. E. swell, four leagues to

the W. N. W. we passed Hinchinbrook Isle, saw the western extremity of

Sandwich Island, bearing S. S. W. about five leagues distant, and at the

same time discovered a small island to the west of this direction. After

getting the westerly breeze, I steered S. E. in order to pass between

Montagu Isle and the north end of Sandwich Island. At noon we were in

the middle of the channel, and observed in latitude 17° 31ʹ South. The

distance from one island to the other is about four or five miles; but

the channel is not much above half that breadth, being contracted by

breakers. We had no soundings in it with a line of forty fathoms.

As we passed Montagu Isle several people came down to the sea-side, and,

by signs, seemed to invite us ashore. Some were also seen on Sandwich

Island, which exhibited a most delightful prospect, being spotted with

woods and lawns, agreeably diversified, over the whole surface. It hath

a gentle slope from the hills, which are of a moderate height, down to

the sea-coast. This is low and guarded by a chain of breakers, so that

there is no approaching it at this part. But more to the west, beyond

Hinchinbrook Island, there seemed to run in a bay sheltered from the

reigning winds. The examining it not being so much an object with me as

the getting to the south, in order to find the southern extremity of the

Archipelago, with this view I steered S. S. E. being the direction of

the coast of Sandwich Island. We had but just got through the passage,

before the west wind left us to variable light airs and calms; so that

we were apprehensive of being carried back again by the currents, or

rather of being obliged to return in order to avoid being driven on the

shoals, as there was no anchorage, a line of an hundred and sixty

fathoms not reaching to the bottom. At length a breeze springing up at

S. W. we stood to S. E. and at sun-set the Monument bore N. 14° 30ʹ

West, and Montagu Island N. 28° West, distant three leagues. We judged

we saw the S. E. extremity of Sandwich Island bearing about S. by E.

We continued to stand to S. E. till four A. M. on the 27th, when we

tacked to the west. At sun-rise having discovered a new land bearing

south, and making in three hills, this occasioned us to tack and stand

towards it. At this time Montagu Isle bore N. 52° West, distant thirteen

leagues; at noon it was nearly in the same direction, and the new land

extended from S. 1/2 E. to S. by W. and three hills seemed to be

connected. Our latitude, by observation, was 18° 1ʹ S. and the

longitude, made from Port Sandwich, 1° 23ʹ E. We continued to stand to

the S. E. with a gentle breeze at S. W. and S. S. W. till the 28th at

sun-rise, when, the wind veering to the south, we tacked and stood to

the west. The three hills mentioned above, we now saw belonged to one

island, which extended from S. 35° to 71° West, distant about ten or

twelve leagues.

Retarded by contrary winds, calms, and the currents that set to N. W.,

we were three days in gaining this space; in which time we discovered an

elevated land to the south of this. It first appeared in detached

hummocks, but we judged it to be connected. At length, on the 1st of

August, about ten A. M. we got a fine breeze at E. S. E. which soon

after veered to N. E. and we steered for the N. W. side of the island.

Reaching it about two P. M. we ranged the west coast at one mile from

shore, on which the inhabitants appeared in several parts, and by signs

invited us to land. We continued to sound without finding bottom, till

we came before a small bay, or bending of the coast, where, near a mile

from shore, we found thirty and twenty-two fathoms water, a sandy

bottom. I had thoughts of anchoring here, but the wind almost instantly

veered to N. W., which being nearly on shore, I laid this design aside.

Besides, I was unwilling to lose the opportunity that now offered of

getting to the south-east, in order first to explore the lands which lay

there. I therefore continued to range the coast to the south, at about

the same distance from shore; but we soon got out of soundings. About a

league to the south of this bay, which hath about two miles extent, is

another more extensive. Towards the evening, the breeze began to abate,

so that it was sun-set before we got the length of it. I intended not to

stop here, and stand to the south under an easy sail all night, but at

eight o’clock, as we were steering S. S. E. we saw a light a-head. Not

knowing but it might be on some low detached isle, dangerous to approach

while dark, we hauled the wind, and spent the night standing off and on,

or rather driving to and fro; for we had but very little wind.

At sun-rise on the 2d, we saw no more land than the coast we were upon;

but found that the currents had carried us some miles to the north, and

we attempted, to little purpose, to regain what we had lost. At noon we

were about a league from the coast, which extended from S. S. E. to

N. E. Latitude observed 18° 46ʹ S. In the afternoon, finding the ship to

drift, not only to the north, but in shore also, and being yet to the

south of the bay we passed the day before, I had thoughts of getting to

an anchor before night, while we had it in our power to make choice of a

place. With this view, having hoisted out two boats, one of them was

sent a-head to tow the ship; in the other Mr. Gilbert went, to sound for

anchorage. Soon after, the towing boat was sent to assist him. So much

time was spent in sounding this bay, that the ship drove past, which

made it necessary to call the boats on board to tow her off from the

northern point. But this service was performed by a breeze of wind,

which, that moment, sprung up at S. W., so that as the boats got on

board, we hoisted them in, and then bore up for the north side of the

island, intending once more to try to get round by the east. Mr. Gilbert

informed me, that, at the south part of the bay, he found no soundings

till close to a steep stone beach, where he landed to taste a stream of

water he saw there, which proved to be salt. Some people were seen

there, but they kept at a distance. Farther down the coast, that is to

the north, he found twenty, twenty-four, and thirty fathoms,

three-fourths of a mile, or a mile from shore, the bottom a fine dark

sand.

On the 3d, at sun-rise, we found ourselves abreast a lofty promontory on

the S. E. side of the island, and about three leagues from it. Having

but little wind, and that from the south, right in our teeth, and being

in want of fire-wood, I sent Lieutenant Clerke with two boats to a small

islot which lies off the promontory, to endeavour to get some. In the

mean time we continued to ply up with the ship; but what we gained by

our sails, we lost by the current. At length, towards noon, we got a

breeze at E. S. E. and E. with which we could lie up for the head; and

soon after Mr. Clerke returned, having not been able to land, on account

of an high surf on the shore. They met with no people on the isle; but

saw a large bat, and some birds, and caught a water-snake. At six

o’clock P. M. we got in with the land, under the N. W. side of the head,

where we anchored in seventeen fathoms water, the bottom a fine dark

sand, half a mile from shore; the point of the head bearing N. 18° East,

distant half a league; the little islot before mentioned N. E. by E. 1/2

E. and the N. W. point of the bay N. 32° West. Many people appeared on

the shore, and some attempted to swim off to us; but having occasion to

send the boat a-head to sound, they retired as she drew near them. This,

however, gave us a favourable idea of them.

On the 4th, at day-break, I went with two boats to examine the coast, to

look for a proper landing-place, wood, and water. At this time, the

natives began to assemble on the shore, and by signs invited us to land.

I went first to a small beach, which is towards the head, where I found

no good landing, on account of some rocks which every where lined the

coast. I, however, put the boat’s bow to the shore, and gave cloth,

medals, &c. to some people who were there. For this treatment they

offered to haul the boats over the breakers to the sandy beach; which I

thought a friendly offer, but had reason afterwards to alter my opinion.

When they found I would not do as they desired, they made signs for us

to go down into the bay, which we accordingly did, and they ran along

shore abreast of us, their number increasing prodigiously. I put into

the shore in two or three places, but, not liking the situation, did not

land. By this time, I believe, the natives conceived what I wanted, as

they directed me round a rocky point, where, on a fine sandy beach, I

stepped out of the boat without wetting a foot, in the face of a vast

multitude, with only a green branch in my hand, which I had before got

from one of them. I took but one man out of the boat with me, and

ordered the other boat to lie to a little distance off. They received me

with great courtesy and politeness, and would retire back from the boat

on my making the least motion with my hand. A man whom I took to be a

chief, seeing this, made them form a semicircle round the boat’s bow,

and beat such as attempted to break through this order. This man I

loaded with presents, giving likewise to others, and asked by signs for

fresh water, in hopes of seeing where they got it. The chief immediately

sent a man for some, who ran to a house, and presently returned with a

little in a bamboo; so that I gained but little information by this. I

next asked, by the same means, for something to eat; and they as readily

brought me a yam, and some cocoa-nuts. In short, I was charmed with

their behaviour; and the only thing which could give the least suspicion

was, that most of them were armed with clubs, spears, darts, and bows

and arrows. For this reason I kept my eye continually upon the chief,

and watched his looks as well as his actions. He made many signs to me

to haul the boat up upon the shore, and at last slipped into the crowd,

where I observed him speak to several people, and then return to me,

repeating signs to haul the boat up, and hesitating a good deal before

he would receive some spike-nails which I then offered him. This made me

suspect something was intended, and immediately I stepped into the boat,

telling them by signs that I should soon return. But they were not for

parting so soon, and now attempted, by force, what they could not obtain

by gentler means. The gang-board happened unluckily to be laid out for

me to come into the boat. I say unluckily, for if it had not been out,

and if the crew had been a little quicker in getting the boat off, the

natives might not have had time to put their design in execution, nor

would the following disagreeable scene have happened. As we were putting

off the boat, they laid hold of the gang-board, and unhooked it off the

boat’s stern, but as they did not take it away, I thought this had been

done by accident, and ordered the boat in again to take it up. Then they

themselves hooked it over the boat’s stern, and attempted to haul her

ashore; others, at the same time, snatched the oars out of the people’s

hands. On my pointing a musket at them, they in some measure desisted,

but returned in an instant, seemingly determined to haul the boat

ashore. At the head of this party was the chief; the others, who could

not come at the boat, stood behind with darts, stones, and bows and

arrows in hand, ready to support them. Signs and threats having no

effect, our own safety became the only consideration; and yet I was

unwilling to fire on the multitude, and resolved to make the chief alone

fall a victim to his own treachery; but my musket at this critical

moment missed fire. Whatever idea they might have formed of the arms we

held in our hands, they must now have looked upon them as childish

weapons, and began to let us see how much better theirs were, by

throwing stones and darts, and by shooting arrows. This made it

absolutely necessary for me to give orders to fire. The first discharge

threw them into confusion; but a second was hardly sufficient to drive

them off the beach; and, after all, they continued to throw stones from

behind the trees and bushes, and, every now and then, to pop out and

throw a dart. Four lay, to all appearance, dead on the shore; but two of

them afterwards crawled into the bushes. Happy it was for these people,

that not half our muskets would go off, otherwise many more must have

fallen. We had one man wounded in the cheek with a dart, the point of

which was as thick as my finger, and yet it entered above two inches;

which shews that it must have come with great force, though indeed we

were very near them. An arrow struck Mr. Gilbert’s naked breast, who was

about thirty yards off; but probably it had struck something before; for

it hardly penetrated the skin. The arrows were pointed with hard wood.

As soon as we got on board, I ordered the anchor to be weighed, with a

view of anchoring near the landing-place. While this was doing, several

people appeared on the low rocky point, displaying two oars we had lost

in the scuffle. I looked on this as a sign of submission, and of their

wanting to give us the oars. I was, nevertheless, prevailed on to fire a

four pound shot at them, to let them see the effect of our great guns.

The ball fell short, but frightened them so much, that none were seen

afterwards; and they left the oars standing up against the bushes.

It was now calm; but the anchor was hardly at the bow before a breeze

sprung up at north, of which we took the advantage, set our sails, and

plyed out of the bay, as it did not seem capable of supplying our wants,

with that conveniency I wished to have. Besides, I always had it in my

power to return to this place, in case I should find none more

convenient farther south.

These islanders seemed to be a different race from those of Mallicollo,

and spoke a different language. They are of the middle size, have a good

shape, and tolerable features. Their colour is very dark, and they paint

their faces, some with black, and others with red pigment. Their hair is

very curly and crisp, and somewhat woolly. I saw a few women, and I

thought them ugly; they wore a kind of petticoat made of palm leaves, or

some plant like it. But the men, like those of Mallicollo, were in a

manner naked; having only the belt about the waist, and the piece of

cloth, or leaf, used as a wrapper.[5] I saw no canoes with these people,

nor were any seen in any part of this island. They live in houses

covered with thatch, and their plantations are laid out by line, and

fenced round.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, we were clear of the bay, bore up round

the head, and steered S. S. E. for the south end of the island, having a

fine breeze at N. W. On the S. W. side of the head is a pretty deep bay,

which seemed to run in behind the one on the N. W. side. Its shores are

low, and the adjacent lands appeared very fertile. It is exposed to the

S. E. winds; for which reason, until it be better known, the N. W. bay

is preferable, because it is sheltered from the reigning winds; and the

winds to which it is open, viz. from N. W. by N. to E. by N. seldom blow

strong. The promontory, or peninsula, which disjoins these two bays, I

named Traitor’s Head, from the treacherous behaviour of its inhabitants.

It is the N. E. point of the island, situated in the latitude 18° 43ʹ

south, longitude 169° 28ʹ east, and terminates in a saddle hill which is

of height sufficient to be seen sixteen or eighteen leagues. As we

advanced to S. S. E., the new island we had before discovered began to

appear over the S. E. point of the one near us, bearing S. 1/2 E.

distant ten or twelve leagues. After leaving this one, we steered for

the East end of the other, being directed by a great light we saw upon

it.

At one o’clock the next morning, drawing near the shore, we tacked, and

spent the remainder of the night making short boards. At sun-rise, we

discovered a high table land (an island) bearing E. by S., and a small

low isle in the direction of N. N. E. which we had passed in the night

without seeing it. Traitor’s Head was still in sight, bearing N. 20°

West, distant fifteen leagues, and the island to the south extended from

S. 7° West to S. 87° West, distant three or four miles. We then found

that the light we had seen in the night, was occasioned by a volcano,

which we observed to throw up vast quantities of fire and smoke, with a

rumbling noise heard at a great distance. We now made sail for the

island; and, presently after, discovered a small inlet which had the

appearance of being a good harbour. In order to be better informed, I

sent away two armed boats, under the command of Lieutenant Cooper, to

sound it; and, in the mean while, we stood on and off with the ship, to

be ready to follow, or give them any assistance they might want. On the

east point of the entrance, we observed a number of people, and several

houses and canoes; and when our boats entered the harbour they launched

some, and followed them, but came not near. It was not long before Mr.

Cooper made the signal for anchorage; and we stood in with the ship. The

wind being at west, and our course S. S. W., we borrowed close to the

west point, and passed over some sunken rocks, which might have been

avoided by keeping a little more to the east, or about one-third channel

over. The wind left us as soon as we were within the entrance, and

obliged us to drop an anchor in four fathoms water. After this, the

boats were sent again to sound; and, in the mean time, the launch was

hoisted out, in order to carry out anchors to warp in by, as soon as we

should be acquainted with the channel.

While we were thus employed, many of the natives got together in

parties, on several parts of the shore, all armed with bows, spears, &c.

Some swam off to us, others came in canoes. At first they were shy, and

kept at the distance of a stone’s throw; they grew insensibly bolder;

and, at last, came under our stern, and made some exchanges. The people

in one of the first canoes, after coming as near as they durst, threw

towards us some cocoa-nuts. I went into a boat and picked them up,

giving them in return some cloth and other articles. This induced others

to come under the stern, and alongside, where their behaviour was

insolent and daring. They wanted to carry off every thing within their

reach; they got hold of the fly of the ensign, and would have torn it

from the staff; others attempted to knock the rings off the rudder; but

the greatest trouble they gave us was to look after the buoys of our

anchors, which were no sooner thrown out of the boats, or let go from

the ship, than they got hold of them. A few musquets fired in the air

had no effect; but a four-pounder frightened them so much, that they

quitted their canoes that instant, and took to the water. But as soon as

they found themselves unhurt, they got again into their canoes; gave us

some halloos; flourished their weapons; and returned once more to the

buoys. This put us to the expence of a few musketoon shot, which had the

desired effect. Although none were hurt, they were afterwards afraid to

come near the buoys; very soon all retired on shore; and we were

permitted to sit down to dinner undisturbed.

During these transactions, a friendly old man in a small canoe made

several trips between us and the shore, bringing off each time a few

cocoa-nuts, or a yam, and taking in exchange whatever we gave him.

Another was on the gangway when the great gun was fired, but I could not

prevail on him to stay there long. Towards the evening, after the ship

was moored, I landed at the head of the harbour, in the S. E. corner,

with a strong party of men, without any opposition being made by a great

number of the natives who were assembled in two parties, the one on our

right, the other on our left, armed with clubs, darts, spears, slings,

and stones, bows and arrows, &c. After distributing to the old people,

(for we could distinguish no chief,) and some others, presents of cloth,

medals, &c., I ordered two casks 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 we wanted. Besides water,

we got from them a few cocoa-nuts, which seemed to be in plenty on the

trees; but they could not be prevailed upon to part with any of their

weapons. These they held in constant readiness, and in the proper

attitudes of offence and defence; so that little was wanting to make

them attack us; at least we thought so, by their pressing so much upon

us, and in spite of our endeavours to keep them off. Our early

re-embarking probably disconcerted their scheme; and after that, they

all retired. The friendly old man before mentioned, was in one of these

parties; and we judged, from his conduct, that his temper was pacific.

CHAP. V.

AN INTERCOURSE ESTABLISHED WITH THE NATIVES; SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND;

AND A VARIETY OF INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED DURING OUR STAY AT IT.

As we wanted to take in a large quantity both of wood and water, and as,

when I was on shore, I 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-awe the natives, and enable us

better to cover and protect the working party on shore; with this view,

on the 6th, we went to work to transport the ship to the place I

designed to moor her in. While we were about this, we observed the

natives assembling from all parts, and forming themselves into two

parties, as they did the preceding evening, one on each side the

landing-place, to the amount of some thousands, armed as before. A

canoe, sometimes conducted by one, and at other times by two or three

men, now and then came off, bringing a few cocoa-nuts or plantains.

These they gave us without asking for any return; but I took care that

they should always have something. Their chief design seemed to be to

invite us on shore. One of those who came off was the old man who had

already ingratiated himself into our favour. I made him understand, by

signs, that they were to lay aside their weapons, took those which were

in the canoe and threw them overboard, and made him a present of a large

piece of cloth. There was no doubt that he understood me, and made my

request known to his countrymen. For as soon as he landed we observed

him to go first to the one party, and then to the other; nor was he,

ever after, seen by us with any thing like a weapon in his hand. After

this, three fellows came in a canoe under the stern, one of them

brandishing a club, with which he struck the ship’s side, and committed

other acts of defiance, but at last offered to exchange it for a string

of beads, and some other trifles. These were sent down to him by a line;

but the moment they were in his possession, he and his companions

paddled off in all haste, without giving the club, or any thing else, in

return. This was what I expected, and indeed what I was not sorry for,

as I wanted an opportunity to show the multitude on shore the effect of

our fire-arms, without materially hurting any of them. Having a

fowling-piece, loaded with small shot, (No. 8.) I gave the fellow the

contents; and, when they were above musket-shot off, I ordered some of

the musketoons, or wall-pieces, to be fired, which made them leap out of

the canoe, keep under her off side, and swim with her ashore. This

transaction seemed to make little or no impression on the people there.

On the contrary, they began to halloo, and to make sport of it.