1774. ROUND THE WORLD, 51 



last island ; and this looked something like it. We 

 answered, by making signs for the two divisions to 

 retire farther back, and give us more room. The 

 old man seemed to desire them so to do, but no more 

 regard was paid to him than to us. More were con- 

 tinually joining them, and, except two or three old 

 men, not one unarmed. In short, every thing con- 

 spired to make us believe they meant to attack us as 

 soon as we should be on shore ; the consequence of 

 which was easily supposed ; many of them must have 

 been killed and wounded, and we should hardly have 

 escaped unhurt ; two things I equally wished to pre- 

 vent. Since, therefore, they would not give us the 

 room we required, I thought it was better to frighten 

 them into it, than to oblige them by the deadly effect 

 of our fire-arms. I accordingly ordered a musket 

 to be fired over the party on our right, which was by 

 far the strongest body ; but the alarm it gave them 

 was momentary. In an instant they recovered them- 

 selves, and began to display their weapons. One 

 fellow showed us his backside, in a manner which 

 plainly conveyed his meaning. After this I ordered 

 three or four muskets to be fired. This was the 

 signal for the ship to fire a few great guns, which 

 presently dispersed them; and then we landed, and 

 marked out the limits, on the right and left, by a line. 

 Our old friend stood his ground, though deserted by 

 his two companions, and I rewarded his confidence 

 with a present. The natives came gradually to us, 

 seemingly in a more friendly manner; some even 

 without their weapons, but by far the greatest part 

 brought them ; and when we made signs to lay them 

 down, they gave us to understand that we must lay 

 down ours first. Thus all parties stood armed. The 

 presents I made to the old people, and to such as 

 seemed to be of consequence, had little effect on 

 their conduct. They indeed climbed the cocoa-nut 

 trees, and threw us down the nuts, without requiring 

 any thing for them ; but I took care that they should 



e 2 



