OF LA FEROUSE. lit 



on board, as well as all the articles which had 

 been dcpofited within the cnclofure fo': the pur- 

 pofe of traffic. 



Our retreat particularly afilided feveral 

 chiefs, who approached the Admiral to teftify 

 to him the great concern that this melancholy 

 accident had occafioncd them ; they highly 

 difapproved fo bafe an acft of treachery, faying 

 that the offender deferved death, and Oiould not 

 long furvive his crime. They did every thing 

 in their power to obtain permiiTion for the traf- 

 fic to continue as before. 



Our detachment having advanced a little into 

 the interior of the ifland, in order to obferve the 

 difpofition of the natives, found near a thoufand 

 who had fiept in the neighbourhood of our efta- 

 blifhment. The commanding officer entreated 

 tl'.em to keep at a greater diftance, which they 

 all did, except a fmall group of armed men, 

 who, immediately railing their clubs and darts, 

 refufcd to recede a fmgle Ifep, Perhaps it 

 would have been neccfTary to reprcfs this auda- 

 cioufnefs, which induced us to conlider them 

 as the accomplices of the offender; but a chief 

 named Tooi'ou, one of the King's relations, fell 

 on them with impetuofity, and, with heavy 

 blows of his club, he very e|uickly uifperfed 

 them. 



Th? Adniiral, before he took bgat to refurn 



on 



