1769. ROUND THE WORLD. 281 



green Talc, and the other endeavoured to secure the 

 hanger, which Mr. Monkhouse had but just time to 

 prevent. As all that had retired to the rock were 

 now advancing, three of us discharged our pieces, 

 loaded only with small shot, upon which they swam 

 back for the shore ; and we perceived, upon their 

 landing, that two or three of them were wounded. 

 They retired slowly up the country, and we reim- 

 barked in our boats. 



As we had unhappily experienced, that nothing 

 was to be done with these people at this place ; and 

 finding the water in the river to be salt, I proceeded 

 in the boats round the head of the bay in search of 

 fresh water, and with a design, if possible, to surprise 

 some of the natives, and take them on board, where, 

 by kind treatment and presents I might obtain their 

 friendship, and by their means establish an amicable 

 correspondence with their countrymen. 



To my great regret, I found no place where I 

 could land, a dangerous surf every where beating 

 upon the shore ; but I saw two canoes coming in 

 from the sea, one under sail, and the other worked 

 with paddles. I thought this a favourable oppor- 

 tunity to get some of the people into my possession 

 without mischief, as those in the canoe were pro- 

 bably fishermen, and without arms, and I had three 

 boats full of men. I therefore disposed the boats so 

 as most effectually to intercept them in their way to 

 the shore ; the people in the canoe that was paddled 

 perceived us so soon, that, by making to the nearest 

 land with their utmost strength, they escaped us ; the 

 other sailed on till she was in the midst of us with- 

 out discerning what we were ; but the moment she 

 discovered us, the people on board struck their sail, 

 and took to their paddles, which they plied so briskly 

 that she out-ran the boat. They were however with- 

 in hearing, and Tupia called out to them to come 

 along-side, and promised for us that they should come 

 to no hurt : they chose, however, rather to trust to 



