PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 91 



escape, in the event of an attack being made. On 

 the 30th November, the women again collected and 

 attacked them ; but no lives were lost, and they re- 

 turned on being once more pardoned, but were again 

 threatened with death the next time they misbe- 

 haved. Threats thus repeatedly made, and as often 

 unexecuted, as might be expected, soon lost their 

 effect, and the women formed a party whenever 

 their displeasure was excited, and hid themselves in 

 the unfrequented parts of the island, carefully pro- 

 viding themselves with fire-arms. In this manner 

 the men were kept in continual suspense, dreading 

 the result of each disturbance, as the numerical 

 strength of the women was much greater than their 

 own. 



On the 4th of May, 1795, two canoes were begun, 

 and in two days completed. These were used for 

 fishing, in which employment the people were fre- 

 quently successful, supplying themselves with rock- 

 fish and large mackarel. On the 27th of December 

 following, they were greatly alarmed by the appear- 

 ance of a ship close in with the island. Fortunately 

 for them there was a tremendous surf upon the 

 rocks, the weather wore a very threatening aspect, 

 and the ship stood to the S.E., and at noon was out 

 of sight. Young appears to have thought this a 

 providential escape, as the sea for a week after was 

 " smoother than they had ever recollected it since 

 their arrival on the island." 



So little occurred in the year 1796, that one page 

 records the whole of the events ; and throughout 

 the following year there are but three incidents 

 worthy of notice. The first, their endeavour to 

 procure a quantity of meat for salting ; the next, 



