Dec. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 145 



unwarrantable conduct, and to convince them of our 

 determination to enforce a respect of property. As 

 soon, therefore, as we were joined by the barge, we SaJ. 

 grappled the raft that contained our rudder ; on 

 which the greater part of the natives again threw 

 themselves into the sea ; but those who remained 

 appeared determined to resist our attack, and endea- 

 voured to push the boat off. Finding, however, they 

 could not readily do this, a man whose long beard was 

 white with age, offered us the disputed article, and 

 we were on the point of receiving it, which would 

 have put an end to all strife, when one of the 

 natives disengaged the raft, and she went astern. 

 Again free, the rudder was replaced on the raft, and 

 the swimmers regained their station. They were 

 followed by the gig and jolly boat, and a short skir- 

 mish ensued, in which Mr. Elson fell. The boat's 

 crew imagining him hurt, and seeing the man he 

 had been engaged with aiming another blow at him, 

 fired and wounded his assailant in the shoulder. 

 The man fell upon the raft, and his companions, 

 alarmed, threw the rudder into the sea and jumped 

 overboard. As this man took a very leading part, 

 he was probably a chief. No other wound was in- 

 flicted, nor did this happen before it was merited ; 

 for our forbearance had extended even beyond the 

 bounds of prudence ; and had less been evinced, we 

 should sooner have gained our point, and probably 

 have stood higher in the estimation of our antago- 

 nists. After this rencontre, some of the rafts again 

 paddled towards us, and waved pieces of white cloth ; 

 but the evening being far spent, and anxious to find 

 anchorage for the ship, I proceeded to examine the 

 islands. We passed the bar, formed by the chain 



VOL. I. L 



