70 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



to be guarded in our intercourse with them; that, by 

 shewing we are prepared to resist aggression, we may leave 

 no hope of success, or no inducement to commit it. 



" In doing this, it is, however, by no means necessary to 

 exhibit marked appearance of suspicion, which would 

 probably only serve to induce the hostility it seemed to 

 fear; it is, on the contrary, easy to combine the shew of 

 being guarded, with marks of the greatest confidence. 



" In the event of the absolute necessit}^ of repelling 

 hostility for self-preservation, it will certainly be more 

 consonant to humanity, and perhaps more effectual in 

 striking terror, that the first guns fired be only loaded with 

 small shot. 



" Although we may expect to find the idea of property 

 fully known to all the people we shall have intercourse 

 with, it is not to be the less expected that they will be 

 addicted to theft, the punishment of which in savages has 

 been one of the most frequent causes pf the unhappy ca- 

 tastrophes that have befallen navigators ; it is therefore 

 urgently advised, not to expose an}^ thing unnecessarily 

 to the view of the natives, or to leave any object in their 

 way that may tempt their avidity. 



" In the distribution of such presents as may be entrusted 

 to those going on shore, great caution is requisite to 



