OF LA PER0USE. 269 



and their number increafed as we advanced to- 

 wards them. Several canoes were hauled up 

 on the fands, and we hoped to fee fome of 

 them launched into the water, in order to come 

 off to us; but the natives made no difpofitions 

 for approaching. As the Admiral wifhed to 

 have an interview with them, we flood on, and 

 brought to under the lee of the ifland, where we 

 found but very poor fhelter, for it is of little ex- 

 tent. The favages appeared in crowds : fome 

 ran along the beach, while others, with their 

 eyes fixed on our fhips, invited us by figns to 

 come on fhore : their ihouts were the expreflions 

 of joy. A few of them launched a canoe : they 

 hefitated for fome time about coming towards 

 our fhip ; but as the Efperance was more to 

 windward, they fleered towards her. This little 

 canoe had an outrigger, and carried feven na- 

 tives, who returned on fhore immediately. 



At half paft one o'clock we brought to, 

 and a boat was difpatched from each fhip with 

 different articles, which were to be diftributed 

 to the inhabitants of this fmall ifland. While 

 thefe boats were approaching it as near as they 

 poffibly could, the fhips kept within reach to pro- 

 tect them, in cafe of an attack on the part of the 

 favages ; for the treachery of the inhabitants of the 

 fouthernmoft of the Admiralty Mauds, towards 

 Carteret, left us fome unealinefs refpecling the. 



intentions 



