286 AVOYAGETO 



'77^- in our favour, we cafl off the moorines, and with our 



April. '^ 



boats towed the fliips out of the cove. After this, we had 

 variable Hght airs and cahiis, till four in the afternoon, 

 when a brec/e fprung up Northerly, with very thick, hazy- 

 weather. The mercury in the barometer fell unufually 

 low; and we had every other fore-runner of an approach- 

 ing florm, which we had reafon to expert would be from 

 the Southward. This made me hefitate a little, as night was 

 at hand, whether I fliould venture to fail, or wait till tiie 

 next morning. But my anxious impatience to proceed upon 

 the voyage, and the fear of lofmg this opportunity of get- 

 ting out of the Sound, making a greater impreflion on my 

 mind, than any apprehenfion of immediate danger, I deter- 

 mined to put to fea at all events. 



Our friends, the natives, attended us, till we were almoft 

 out of the Sound ; fome on board the fliips, and others in 

 their canoes. One of their Chiefs, who had, fome time be- 

 fore, attached himfclf to mc, was amongft the lafl; who left 

 us. Having, before he went, beflowed upon him a fmall 

 prefent, I received in return, a beaver-fkin, of much greater 

 value. This called upon me to make fome addition to my 

 prefent, which pleafcd him fo much, that he infilled upon 

 my acceptance of the bcaver-i"kin cloak which he then 

 wore ; and of whicii I knew he was particularly fond. 

 Struck with this inllancc of gencrofity, and dcfuous tliat he 

 Ihould be no fiirfcrcr by his friendlhip to me, I prelentcd to 

 him a new broad fvvord, witli a brafs hilt; the poffeffion of 

 which made him completely happy. lie, and alfo many 

 others of his countrymen, importuned us much to pay 

 them another vifit ; and, by way of encouragement, pro- 

 mifed to lay in a good (lock of ilcins. 1 make no doubt, 

 that whoever comes after mc to this place, will lind the na- 

 3 tivcs 



