156 VOYAGE TO THE 



the duty of watering the ship could not be carried 

 on, and it was of the greatest consequence that it 

 should be got through speedily, as the boats were 

 required to survey the group, upon which I could 

 not bestow many days. My hope was, that the na- 

 tives would quit us as their curiosity became satis- 

 fied, especially as they had nothing to barter, except 

 some sour paste, which, being extremely unpalatable 

 to every one on board, was not marketable. After 

 breakfast, two small boats, the only ones we had in 

 repair, were equipped for landing, and the barge 

 was ordered to be in attendance ; for though there 

 was every reason to expect a friendly reception, yet 

 in a country where the language is not understood, 

 and among a barbarous people, whose principal aim 

 is plunder, it is extremely difficult to avoid disputes, 

 especially when the force to which they are opposed 

 is greatly inferior to their own. We felt the loss 

 of the cutter at this moment, as she was a boat so 

 much better calculated for the service we had to 

 perform than the gig or whale-boat. 



As we had anticipated, the boats had no sooner 

 put off from the ship, than all the natives quitted 

 her as before, and joined their companions on shore, 

 who were assembled in a wood skirting the beach. 

 At the approach of the boats, there was much bustle 

 among the trees ; every one appeared to be arming 

 himself, and many who had long poles broke them 

 in halves to supply those who had none. These 

 preparations made it necessary to be cautious how 

 the boats were placed in their power, as they were 

 small, and easily upset, and the natives very nume- 

 rous. We found the shore, as at the other island, 

 surrounded by coral rocks, upon which the boats 



