282 TRAFFIC RENEWED. : 
ber of our guns and muskets, which he called 
Puas; counted them several times over, and 
clasped his hands above his head to express his 
surprise. He intimated to us that he knew the 
effect they produced, by pointing to a gun, try- 
ing to imitate the sound of the report, and then 
closing his eyes and hanging his head. He ex- 
plained this to his companions, who were so ter- 
rified by what he told them, that they would not 
again venture near the guns. 
Meanwhile our traffic was renewed, though 
rather confusedly, from the impatience of the 
islanders to dispose of their property ; the Eageh 
grew angry at this, and pressed me much to fire 
my puas on the boisterous mob. Was he then 
really acquainted with their destructive power, 
and so indifferent about human life? Or, was 
he aware of the possibility of firing with blank 
cartridges? This remained uncertain. 
A telescope which I held in my hand at- 
tracted the observation of the chief, who took it 
fora gun. I directed him to look through it ; 
but the sudden vision of the distant prospect 
brought so close to his eye that he could even 
distinguish the people on the strand, so terrified 
