234 ATTACK UPON THE SURVEYING BOATS. 



Juhj Gth. — Lieutenants Dayman and Simpson^ 

 with the pinnace and second g*alley^ returned to the 

 ship after an absence of several days. On the 

 morning' of the 4th^ after having- spent the nig-ht at 

 anchor in one of the bays on the south side of 

 Joannet Island^ they were attacked by the natives 

 under the folio Aving* circumstances : — In the grey of 

 the morning' the look-outs reported the approach of 

 three canoes^ with about ten men in each. On two 

 or three persons shewing* themselves in the bow of 

 the pinnace in front of the rain-awning'^ the natives 

 ceased paddhng'^ as if baulked in their desig'n of 

 sm'prising' the larg-e boat^ but^ after a short con- 

 sultation^ they came alongside in theu^ usual noisy 

 manner. After a stay of about five minutes only 

 they pushed off to the g'alley^ and some more sham 

 bartering* was attempted^ but they had nothing* to 

 give in exchang-e for the helumai so much coveted. 

 In a short time the rudeness and overbearino- inso- 

 lence of the natives had risen to a pitch which left 

 no doubt of their hostile intentions. The anchor was 

 g'ot up^ when some of the blacks seized the painter^ 

 and others in trying* to capsize the boat broug^ht 

 the g'unwale down to the water's edg'e^ at the 

 same time grappling- with the men to pull 

 them out^ and dragging* the galley in-shore 

 towards the shoal water. The bowman^ with the 

 anchor in his hand^ was struck on the head with a 

 stone-headed axe^ the blow was repeated_, but fortu- 

 nately took effect only on the wash-streak y another 



