1770- ROUND THE WOULD. 235 



of brackish water. The trees were of a small growth, 

 but well hung with fruit ; and near them was a shed 

 or hut, which had been covered with their leaves, 

 though most of them were now fallen off: about 

 the hut lay a great number of the shells of the fruit, 

 some of which appeared to be just fresh from the 

 tree. We looked at the fruit very wishfully, but 

 not thinking it safe to climb, we were obliged to 

 leave it without tasting a single nut. At a little 

 distance from this place we found plantains, and a 

 bread-fruit tree, but it had nothing upon it ; and 

 having now advanced about a quarter of a mile from 

 the boat, three Indians rushed out of the wood with 

 a hideous shout, at about the distance of a hundred 

 yards ; and as they ran towards us, the foremost 

 threw something out of his hand, which flew on one 

 side of him, and burnt exactly like gunpowder, but 

 made no report : the other two instantly threw their 

 lances at us ; and, as no time was now to be lost, 

 we discharged our pieces, which were loaded with 

 small shot. It is probable that they did not feel 

 the shot, for though they halted a moment, they did 

 not retreat ; and a third dart was thrown at us. As 

 we thought their farther approach might be pre- 

 vented with less risk of life, than it would cost to 

 defend ourselves against their attack if they should 

 come nearer, we loaded our pieces with ball, and 

 fired a second time : by this discharge it is probable 

 that some of them were wounded ; yet we had the 

 satisfaction to see that they all ran away with great 

 agility. As I was not disposed forcibly to invade 

 this country, either to gratify our appetites or our 

 curiosity, and perceived that nothing was to be done 

 upon friendly terms, we improved this interval, in 

 which the destruction of the natives was no longer 

 necessary to our own defence, and with all expedition 

 returned towards our boat. As we were advancing 

 along the shore, we perceived that the two men on 

 board made signals that more Indians were coming 



