1769. ROUND THE WORLD. 297 



above all, the shot, which spread very far in the 

 water, so intimidated them, that they began to paddle 

 away with all their might : Tupia, however, calling 

 after them, and assuring them that if they would 

 come unarmed, they should be kindly received ; the 

 people in one of the boats put their arms on board of 

 another, and came under the ship's stern ; we made 

 them several presents, and should certainly have 

 prevailed upon them to come on board, if the other 

 canoes had not come up, and again threatened us, 

 by shouting and brandishing their weapons : at this 

 the people who had come to the ship unarmed, ex- 

 pressed great displeasure, and soon after they all 

 went away. 



In the afternoon we stood over to the south point 

 of the bay, but not reaching it before it was dark, 

 we stood off and on all night. At eight the next 

 morning, being a-breast of the point, several fishing 

 boats came off to us, and sold us some stinking fish : 

 it was the best they had, and we were willing to trade 

 with them upon any terms : these people behaved 

 very well, and we should have parted good friends 

 if it had not been for a large canoe, with two-and- 

 twenty armed men on board, which came boldly up 

 along-side of the ship. We soon saw that this boat 

 had nothing for traffic, yet w^e gave them two or 

 three pieces of cloth, an article which they seemed 

 very fond of. I observed that one man had a black 

 skin thrown over him, somewhat resembling that of 

 a bear, and being desirous to know what animal was 

 its first owner, I offered him for it a piece of red 

 baize, and he seemed greatly pleased with the bar- 

 gain, immediately pulling off the skin, and holding 

 it up in the boat ; he would not, however, part with 

 it till he had the cloth in his possession, and as there 

 could be no transfer of property, if with equal cau- 

 tion I had insisted upon the same condition, I or- 

 dered the cloth to be handed down to him, upon 

 which, with amazing coolness, instead of sending up 



