OF LA PER0U9E. 



^/T 



Wc ran very clofe along the iflots named 

 the Three Sifters; we then plied to windward, 

 in order to get to the fouthward, and fail out 

 of the ftrait which feparates the ifland called 

 by Mendana, Guadal dmalt from that of St. 

 Chriftopher's. * 



The Efperance came within hail of us about 

 eight o'clock in the evening, to communicate 

 to us an adt of treachery of fome of the iflanders. 

 She had been furrounded during the preceding 

 night by a great number of canoes, from which 

 only two natives had come on board. Thefe 

 had boafted greatly of the different fruits of 

 their ifland, and had promifcd to procure a 

 great quantity if her people would come on 

 fhore. At length thefe two men had gone away 

 about the middle of the night ; but among many 

 canoes that had remained near the Efperance, 

 there had been remarked one much larger than 

 the others, which, on the approach of day, 

 paddled feveral times round the fhip : this canoe 

 ftopped a moment, and immediately there came? 

 from it at lead a dozen arrow^s, by which De- 

 fcrt,one of the fhip's company, was wounded in 

 the arm ; fortunately, moft of the other arrows 

 had ftuck into the Ihip's fide. Thefe traitors, 

 after this difcharge, fled with precipitation, 

 and they were already very far olf when a muf- 

 kct ^vas fired at them ; tlie b.ill did not llrike 

 T 3 them ; 



