342 HISTORY OF 



Their attention was attracted by some* natives 

 from these islands, who appeared standing up 

 in their canoes, and pulling to them, in regular 

 order. They seemed to have long poles or spears 

 with which they appeared to be paddling, all 

 shifting their hands at the same instant. About 

 twenty of them were counted, and were thought 

 to be coming on with much resolution, so the 

 crew prepared for the event whatever it might 

 be. The Norfolk was put under easy sail, her 

 decks cleared and each man had a number 

 of musquet-balls, pistoWballs, and buck-shot, 

 to be used as distance might seem to ren- 

 der requisite ; as it was determined not one 

 should escape if they made an attack. 



Thus prepared, they bore towards them, but 

 finding at length that notwithstanding all their 

 exertions they did not approach any nearer the 

 vessel ; to their great surprize they discovered 

 that instead of being in canoes to attack them, 

 they were standing on a flat, which surrounded 

 the third island, driving fish into their nets, and 

 that they in fact, had only two canoes among 

 them. They stood all in a line, splashing the 

 water with sticks, first on one side and then on 

 the other. This apparently hostile array thus 

 proved to be only a few men fishing, and they 

 were so peaceable that on the vessel's approach 

 they sunk their canoes on the flat, and retreats 

 ing to the island made their fires. 



From the situation of the sloop at anchor, at 

 noon G lass-House Bay appeared closed round, 

 except at one opening which bore S. 27* E. To 



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