JOHN LEDYARD. 301 



V 



Moral, they defended themselves, without any mate- 

 rial damage, until the succours came. The natives 

 did not attempt to molest the boats in their de- 

 barkation of our people, which we much wondered 

 at; and they soon joined the others upon the Morai, 

 amounting in the whole to about sixty. Mr. Phil- 

 lips, notwithstanding his wound, was present, and, 

 in conjunction with Lieutenant King, carried the 

 chief command. The plan was to act only de- 

 fensively, until we could get our mast into the 

 water, to tow off, and our tents into the boats ; and, 

 as soon as that was effected, to return on board. 

 This we did in about an hour's time, but not with- 

 out killing a number of the natives, who resolutely 

 attacked us, and endeavored to mount the walls of 

 the Morai where they were lowest ; but, being op- 

 posed with our skill in such modes of attack, and 

 the great superiority of our arms, they were even 

 repulsed with loss, and at length retreated among 

 the houses adjacent to the Morai, which affording a 

 good opportunity to retreat to our boats, we em- 

 braced it, and got off all well. Our mast was taken 

 on the booms and repaired there, though to dis- 

 advantage." 



6 



