177^« HOUND THE WORLD. 47 



shy, and kept at the distance of a stone's throw ; thev 

 grew insensibly bolder; and, at last, came under 

 our stern, and made some exchanges. The people 

 in one of the first canoes, after coming as near as 

 they durst, threw towards us some cocoa-nuts. I 

 went into a boat and picked them up, giving them in 

 return some cloth and other articles. This induced 

 others to come under the stern, and alongside, where 

 their behaviour was insolent and daring. They 

 wanted to carry off every thing within their reach ; 

 they got hold of the fly of the ensign, and would 

 have torn it from the staff; others attempted to knock 

 the rings off the rudder ; but the greatest trouble 

 they gave us was to look after the buoys of our an- 

 chors, which were no sooner thrown out of the boats, 

 or let go from the ship, than they got hold of them. 

 A few musquets fired in the air had no effect ; but a 

 four-pounder frightened them so much, that they 

 quitted their canoes that instant, and took to the 

 water. But as soon as they found themselves unhurt, 

 they got again into their canoes ; gave us some hal- 

 loos ; flourished their weapons ; and returned once 

 more to the buoys. This put us to the expence of a 

 few musketoon shot, which had the desired effect. 

 Although none were hurt, they were afterwards afraid 

 to come near the buoys ; very soon all retired on 

 shore ; and we were permitted to sit down to din- 

 ner undisturbed. 



During these transactions, a friendly old man in a 

 small canoe made several trips between us and the 

 shore, bringing off each time a few cocoa-nuts, or a 

 yam, and taking in exchange whatever we gave him. 

 Another was on the gangway when the great gun was 

 fired, but I could not prevail on him to stay there 

 long. Towards the evening, after the ship was 

 moored, 1 landed at the head of the harbour, in the 

 S. E. corner, with a strong party of men, without 

 any opposition being made by a great number of the 

 natives who were assembled in two parties, the one 



