DAMPIER^S SOJOURN IN GRExVT NICOBAR 265 



" The canoe being now very well fixed, and our books and 

 clothes dry, we launched out the second time, and rowed towards 

 the east side of the island, leaving many islands to the north 

 of us. The Indians of the island accompanied us with eight or 

 ten canoes against our desire ; for we thought that these men 

 would make provision dearer at that side of the island we 

 were going to, by giving an account what rates we gave for 

 it at the place from whence we came, which was owing to the 

 ships being there, for the ship's crew were not so thrifty in 

 bargaining (as they seldom are) as single persons or a few men 

 might be apt to be who would keep to one bargain. Therefore, 

 to hinder them from going with us, Mr Hall scared one canoe's 

 crew by firing a shot over them ; they all leaped overboard 

 and cried out, but seeing us row away they got into their 

 canoe again and rowed after us. 



" The firing of that gun made all the inhabitants of the 

 island to be our enemies. For presently after this we put 

 ashore at a bay where were four houses and a great many 

 canoes ; but they all went away, and came near to us no more 

 for several days. We had then a great loaf of melory, which 

 was our constant food ; and if we had a mind to coconuts or 

 toddy, our Malayans of Achin would climb the trees and fetch 

 as many nuts as we would have, and a good pot of toddy 

 every morning. Thus we lived till our melory was almost 

 spent ; being still in hopes that the natives would come to 

 us, and sell it as they had formerly done. But they came not 

 to us ; nay, they opposed us wherever we came, and after 

 shaking their lances at us, made all the show of hatred that 

 they could invent. 



" At last, when we saw that they stood in opposition to us, 

 we resolved to use force to get some of their food, if we could 

 not get it other ways. With this resolution, we went in our 

 canoe to a small bay on the north part of the island, because 

 it was smooth water there, and good landing; but on the other 

 side, the wind being yet on that quarter, we could not land 

 without jeopardy of oversetting our canoe, and wetting our 



