177*' ROUND THE WORLD. 49 



CHAP. V. 



AN INTERCOURSE ESTABLISHED WITH THE NATIVES ; SOME 

 ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND ; AND A VARIETY OF INCIDENTS 

 THAT HAPPENED DURING OUR STAY AT IT. 



As we wanted to take in a large quantity both of 

 w T ood and water, and as, when I was on shore, 1 had 

 found it practicable to lay the ship much nearer the 

 landing-place than she now was, which would greatly 

 facilitate that work, as well as over-awe the natives, 

 and enable us better to cover and protect the working 

 party on shore ; with this view, on the 6th, we went 

 to work to transport the ship to the place I designed 

 to moor her in. While we were about this, we ob- 

 served the natives assembling from all parts, and 

 forming themselves into two parties, as they did the 

 preceding evening, one on each side the landing- 

 place, to the amount of some thousands, armed as 

 before. A canoe, sometimes conducted by one, and 

 at other times by two or three men, now and then 

 came off, bringing a few cocoa-nuts or plantains. 

 These they gave us without asking for any return ; 

 but I took care that they should always have something. 

 Their chief design seemed to be to invite us on shore. 

 One of those who came off was the old man who 

 had already ingratiated himself into our favour. I 

 made him understand, by signs, that they were to 

 lay aside their weapons, took those which were in 

 the canoe and threw them overboard, and made him 

 *a present of a large piece of cloth. There was no 

 doubt that he understood me, and made my request 

 known to his countrymen. For as soon as he landed 

 we observed him to go first to the one party, and then 

 to the other ; nor was he, ever after, seen by us with 

 any thing like a weapon in his hand. After this, 

 three fellows came in a canoe under the stern, one 



VOL. IV. E 



