PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 161 



off a small cask that had been left there the preced- chap 

 ing night. We watched him through our telescopes, v-^*. 

 and observed him conceal it with a large mat which ^ 

 he carried with him. He had doubtless no suspicion 

 that his actions could be observed at so great a dis- 

 tance, as he began to retrace his steps along the open 

 beach ; but seeing he was not sufficiently quick to 

 escape the boats that were going on shore, he quit- 

 ted bis prize, and hid himself in the wood. The 

 watering had not long been renewed before a large 

 party collected upon the height above, headed by 

 two men, who appeared to be chiefs, clad in loose 

 white turbans and cloaks : the eldest led the party 

 cautiously down the hill, and made a stand at a large 

 stone, which one of his party ascended, and there 

 waved a banana leaf. We answered this friendly 

 signal by waving in return a white flag from the 

 ship : but here our amity ended ; for while this was 

 going forward the other chief stood upon the ridge, 

 and beckoned to the natives on the other side of the 

 hill to join him, which greatly augmented his num- 

 bers ; and some of them loosened large stones, appa- 

 rently with a view of annoying our watering party, 

 who were so situated under the hill that a few such 

 fragments precipitated upon them would cause very 

 serious mischief. As there was every appearance of 

 treachery, the boats were put upon their guard by 

 signal ; but the barge mistaking its purport, fired 

 two shot to dislodge the islanders, both of which, to 

 their great astonishment, fell very close to them, and 

 induced them to retire to the other side of the ridge. 

 Some, however, had the curiosity to return and ex- 

 amine the place, and, after a little digging, found one 

 of the shot, which they carried to their comrades, many 



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