262 DAMPIER'S SOJOURN IN GREAT NICOBAR 



men and women came aboard the ship without any sign of fear. 

 When our ship's canoe was going aboard again, they met the 

 owner of the houses coming ashore in his boat. He made a 

 great many signs to them to fetch me off again, but they 

 would not understand him. Then he came to me, and offered 

 his boat to carry me off, but I refused it. Then he made signs 

 to me to go up into the house, and, according as I did under- 

 stand him by his signs, and a few Malayan words that he used, 

 he intimated that somewhat would come out of the woods in 

 the night, when I was asleep, and kill me, meaning, probably, 

 some wild beast. Then I carried my chest and clothes up into 

 the house. 



" I had not been ashore an hour before Captain Teat and 

 one John Damerel, with three or four men more, came to fetch me 

 aboard again. They need not have sent an armed posse for 

 me, for had they but sent the cabin-boy ashore for me, I would 

 not have denied going aboard. For though I could have hid 

 myself in the woods, yet then they would have abused, or have 

 killed, some of the natives, purposely to incense them against 

 me. I told them, therefore, that I was ready to go with them, 

 and went aboard with all my things. 



" When I came aboard, I found the ship in an uproar ; for 

 there were three men more, who, taking courage by my example, 

 desired leave also to accompany me. One of these was the 

 surgeon, Mr Coppinger, the other was Mr Robert Hall, and one 

 named Ambrose — I have forgot his surname. These men had 

 always harboured the same designs as I had. The two last were 

 not much opposed, but Captain Read and his crew would not 

 part with the surgeon. At last the surgeon leaped into the 

 canoe, and, taking up my gun, swore he would go ashore, and 

 that if any man did oppose it, he would shoot him. But John 

 Oliver, who was the quarter-master, leaped into the canoe, 

 taking hold of him, took away the gun, and with the help of two 

 or three more, they dragged him again into the ship. 



" Then Mr Hall, and Ambrose, and I were again sent ashore ; 

 and one of the men that rowed us ashore stole an axe and gave 



