THIRD VOYAGE 325 



corned us, by joining in a song, which was far from dis- 

 agreeable. 



" The day being now far spent, I proceeded for the ships. 

 When I got on board I was informed that while I was 

 absent, they had been visited by some strangers, who, by 

 signs, made our people understand that they had come 

 from the south-east, beyond the bay. They brought several 

 skins, garments, and other articles, which they bartered. 

 But what was most singular, two silver table spoons were 

 purchased from them, which, from their peculiar shape, we 

 supposed to be of Spanish manufacture. One of these 

 strangers wore them round his neck by way of ornament. 



" Captain Glerke and I went in the forenoon of next day 

 with two boats to the village at the west point of the Sound. 

 When I was there the day before, I had observed that plenty 

 of grass grew near it ; and it was necessary to lay in a 

 quantity of this for the few goats and sheep which were 

 still left on board. The inhabitants received us with the 

 same demonstrations of friendship which I had experienced 

 before ; and the moment we landed, I ordered some of my 

 people to begin their operation of cutting. I had not the 

 least imagination that the natives could make any objection 

 to our furnishing ourselves with what seemed to be of no 

 use to them, but was necessary for us. However, I was 

 mistaken, for the moment that our men began to cut, some 

 of the inhabitants interposed, and would not permit them 

 to proceed, saying they must " makook ; " that is, must 

 first buy it. I bargained with them for it, and thought 

 that we were now at liberty to cut wherever we pleased. 

 But here again I was under a mistake ; for the liberal 

 manner in which I had paid the first pretended proprietors, 

 brought fresh demands upon me from others ; and so many 

 of them were to be satisfied, that I very soon emptied my 

 pockets. When they found that I really had nothing more 

 to give, their importunities ceased, and we were permitted 

 to cut wherever we pleased, and as much as we chose to 

 carry away. 



" Everything being now ready, in the morning of the 26th 

 I intended to have put to sea, but both wind and tide being 

 against us, was obliged to continue where we were. At four 

 o'clock in the afternoon we had every forerunner of an 

 approaching storm ; this made me hesitate a little whether 

 I should venture to sail, or wait till the next morning. But 

 my anxious impatience to proceed upon the voyage, made 

 me determine to put to sea at all events. 



" Our friends the natives attended us till we were almost 

 out of the Sound ; some on board the ships, and others 

 in their canoes. To one of their chiefs, who had attached 



