24 Thomas Henry Huxley 



baulked in their design of surprising the large boat ; but, after 

 a short consultation, they came alongside in their usual noisy 

 manner. After a stay of about live minutes otdy they pushed 

 off to the galley, aud some more sham bartering was attempted, 

 but they had nothing to give iu exchange for the wares they so 

 much coveted. In a short time the rudeness and overbearing 

 insolence of the natives bad risen to a pitch which left no 

 doubt of their hostile intentions. The anchor was got up, 

 when some of the blacks seized the painter, and others, in try- 

 ing to capsize the boat, brought the gunwale down to the 

 water's edge, at the same time grappling with the men to pull 

 them out, and dragging the galley inshore towards the shoal- 

 water. The bowman, with the anchor in his baud, was struck 

 on the head with a stone-headed axe. The blow was repeated, 

 but fortunately took effect only on the wash-streak. Another 

 of the crew was struck at with a similar weapon, but warded 

 off the blow, although held fast by one arm, when, just as the 

 savage was making another stroke. Lieutenant Dayman, who 

 up till now had exercised the utmost forbearance, fired at him 

 with a musket. The man did not drop, although wounded in 

 the thigh. But even this, unquestionably their first experience 

 of firearms, did not intimidate the natives, one of whom, 

 standing on a block of coral, threw a spear which passed across 

 the breast of one of the boat's crew aud lodged in the bend of 

 one arm, opening a vein. They raised a loud shout when the 

 spear was seen to take effect, and threw several others which 

 missed. Lieutenant Simpson, who had been watching what was 

 going on, then fired from the pinnace with buckshot and struck 

 them, when, finding that the large boat, though at anchor, 

 could assist the smaller one, the canoes were paddled inshore in 

 great haste and confusion. Some more musket shots were 

 fired, and the galley went in chase endeavouring to turn the 

 canoes, so as to bring them under fire of the pinnace's twelve- 

 pounder howitzer, which was speedily mounted and fired. The 

 shot either struck one of the canoes or went within a few inches 

 of the mark, on which the natives instantly jumped overboard 

 into the shallow water, making for the mangroves, which they 

 succeeded iu reaching, dragging their canoes with them. Two 

 rounds of grape-shot crashing through the branches dispersed 

 the party, but afterwards they moved two of the canoes out of 



