160 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. To obtain possession of these articles without strife, it 

 *- ^^ was necessary to drive away a party that was seated 

 1826! upon a large tree near them, and a carronade was 

 fired over their heads : but of this they took no 

 notice, probably considering themselves safe at so 

 great a distance, and having had no experience to 

 the contrary, supposed that such weapons were 

 calculated only to intimidate by noise. The next 

 gun dispersing the sand amongst them, they speedily 

 resigned their seats, and with all the inhabitants 

 went to the upper village. After this our commu- 

 nication was for a time suspended, as the natives 

 kept aloof, and the boats were required to proceed 

 with the watering. 



At daylight on the 2d of January, we commenced 

 filling our casks from two good streams, which sup- 

 plied water much faster than it could be got off. 



We perceived the natives collected in a large 

 body at the village, and soon afterwards some men 

 stole along the beach to reconnoitre the watering 

 party ; but they were prevented offering any moles- 

 tation by a gun being fired from the ship. On this 

 day I observed the old custom of taking possession 

 of the groupe, and hoisted the English ensign upon 

 the shore, turned a turf, and sowed several useful 

 seeds, which it is to be hoped will spring up to the 

 benefit of the natives. I named the island on which 

 Mount Duff stood, after my first Lieutenant, Mr. 

 Peard, and the others in succession, Belcher, Wain- 

 wright, Elson, Collie, and Marsh, after the other 

 officers, and the lagoon in which the ship was an- 

 chored after herself. 



Before our party reached the shore the next 

 morning, one of the natives was perceived carrying 



