1778. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 251 



sent to cut wood, and to clear a place for the con- 

 veniency of watering. Others were employed to 

 brew spruce-beer, as pine trees abounded here. The 

 forge was also set up, to make the iron- work wanting 

 for the repairs of the foremast. But, besides one of 

 the bibs being defective, the larboard trestle-tree, and 

 one of the cross-trees were sprung. 



A considerable number of the natives visited us 

 daily ; and every now and then we saw new faces. 

 On their first coming, they generally went through a 

 singular mode of introducing themselves. They 

 would paddle, with all their strength, quite round 

 both ships, a chief, or other principal person, in the 

 canoe, standing up with a spear, or some other 

 weapon, in his hand, and speaking, or rather hol- 

 lowing, all the time. Sometimes the orator of the 

 canoe would have his face covered with a mask, re- 

 presenting either a human visage, or that of some 

 animal ; and, instead of a weapon, would hold a 

 rattle in his hand, as before described. After making 

 this circuit round the ships, they would come along- 

 side, and begin to trade without further ceremony. 

 Very often, indeed, they would first give us a song, 

 in which all in the canoe joined, with a very pleasing 

 harmony. 



During these visits they gave us no other trouble 

 than to guard against their thievish tricks. But, in the 

 morning of the 4th, we had a serious alarm. Our party 

 on shore, who were employed in cutting wood and fill- 

 ing water, observed that the natives all around them 

 were arming themselves in the best manner they could; 

 those who were not possessed of proper weapons, pre- 

 paring sticks and collecting stones. On hearing this, 

 I thought it prudent to arm also ; but being deter- 

 mined to act upon the defensive, I ordered all our 

 workmen to retreat to the rock, upon which we had 

 placed our observatories ; leaving the natives in quiet 

 possession of the ground where they had assembled, 



