TO KAMTSCHATKA. 143 



deavoured to seize upon a number of the inha- 

 bitants. 



The combat is said to have been bloody, as the 

 brave islanders defended themselves with intre- 

 pidity; but they were obliged to yield to the terrible 

 arms of the Europeans; and twelve men, and ten 

 women, fell into the merciless hands of the Ameri- 

 cans. Upon this, the poor creatures were carried 

 on board, fettered for the first three days, and not 

 released till they were out of sight of land. Tlie 

 first use they made of their recovered liberty, was, 

 that the men jumped over board ; and the women, 

 who attempted to follow them, were prevented only 

 by force. The captain made the ship lie to, in 

 hopes that they w^oidd return on board for refuge, 

 when they were threatened by the waves. He, 

 however, soon perceived how much he had been 

 mistaken ; for the savages, used to the water from 

 their infancy, thought it not impossible, notwith- 

 standing the distance of three days* voyage, to 

 reach their native country ; and at all events they 

 preferred perishing in the waves, to leading a 

 miserable life in captivity. After they had dis- 

 puted for some time, as to the direction they should 

 take, they separated ; some took the direct way to 

 Easter Island, and the others to the north. The 

 captain, extremely enraged at this unexpected 

 heroism, sent a boat after them, which returned 

 after many fruitless efforts, as they always dived at 

 the approach of the boat, and the sea compassion- 



