70 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 
to be guarded in our intercourse with them; that, by 
shewing we are prepared to resist aggression, we may leave 
no hope of success, or no inducement to commit it. 
*«‘ In doing this, it is, however, by no means necessary to 
exhibit marked appearance of suspicion, which would 
probably only serve to induce the hostility it seemed to 
fear; itis, on the contrary, easy to combine the shew of 
being guarded, with marks of the greatest confidence. 
«© In the event of the absolute necessity of repelling 
hostility for self-preservation, it will certainly be more 
consonant to humanity, and perhaps more effectual in 
striking terror, that the first guns fired be only loaded with 
small shot. 
«¢ Although we may expect to find the idea of property 
fully known to all the people we shall have intercourse 
with, it is not to be the less expected that they will be 
addicted to theft, the punishment of which in savages has 
been one of the most frequent causes of the unhappy ca- 
tastrophes that have befallen navigators ; it is therefore 
urgently advised, not to expose any thing unnecessarily 
to the view of the natives, or to leave any object in their 
way that may tempt their avidity. 
‘¢ In the distribution of such presents as may be entrusted 
to those going on shore, great caution is requisite to 
