1774* ROUND THE WOULD. 53 



fine sand or stone, ground or burnt to powder, and 

 was exceedingly troublesome to the eyes. 



Early in the morning of the 7th, the natives be- 

 gan again to assemble near the watering-place, armed 

 as usual, but not in such numbers as at first. After 

 breakfast we landed, in order to cut wood and fill 

 water. I found many of the islanders much inclined 

 to be friends with us, especially the old people ; on 

 the other hand, most of the younger were daring 

 and insolent, and obliged us to keep to our arms. I 

 staid till I saw no disturbance was like to happen, and 

 then returned to the ship, leaving the party under 

 the command of Lieutenants Clerke and Edgcumbe. 

 When they came on board to dinner, they informed 

 me that the people continued to behave in the same 

 inconsistent manner as in the morning; but more espe- 

 cially one man, whom Mr. Edgcumbe was obliged to 

 fire at, and believed he had struck with a swan-shot. 

 After that, the others behaved with more discretion ; 

 and as soon as our people embarked, they all retired. 

 While we were sitting at dinner, an old man came on 

 board, looked into many parts of the ship, and then 

 went ashore again. 



In the afternoon, only a few of those who lived in 

 the neighbourhood, with whom we were now upon a 

 tolerable footing, made their appearance at the water- 

 ing-place. Paowang brought us an axe which had 

 been left by our people, either in the woods or on 

 the beach, and found by some of the natives. A few 

 other articles were afterwards returned to us, which 

 either they had stolen, or we liad lost by our negli- 

 gence. So careful were they now not to offend us in 

 this respect. 



Early the next morning, I sent the launch, pro- 

 tected by a party of marines in another boat, to take 

 in ballast, which we wanted. This work was done 

 before breakfast ; and after it, she was sent for 

 wood and water, and with her the people employed 

 in this service under the protection of a Serjeant's 



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