CorExso.— Manibus Parkinsonibus sacrum. 119 
ascend from different parts, and thence concluded that it was inhabited. 
On the 9th, early in the morning, the wind being favourable, we stood in 
nearer land, where it seemed to open and form a deep bay; but on 
approaching it we discovered low land, and it was much shallower than we 
expected. Upon entering we had regular soundings all the way, from 
twenty-six to six fathoms, and cast anchor on the east side in ten fathoms 
water about two or three miles from the shore, over against the land on the 
right where there was the appearance of a river. * * * Having cast 
anchor, the pinnace, long-boat, and yawl were sent on shore with the 
marines. As soon as the people who were in the pinnace had passed a 
little way up into the country, while the long-boat went up the river to see 
for water, some of the natives, who had hid themselves among the bushes, 
made their appearance, having long wooden lances in their hands, which they 
held up in a threatening posture as if they intended to throw them at the 
boys in the yawl. The cockswain, who stayed in the pinnace, perceiving 
them, fired a musketoon over their heads, but that did not seem to intimidate 
them ; he therefore fired a musket, and shot one of them through the heart, 
upon which they were much alarmed and retreated precipitately. The 
water in the river was found to be brackish, in which we were disappointed ; 
but they shot some wild ducks of a very large size, and gathered a variety 
of curious plants in flower. 
* Early on the morning of the 10th the long-boat, pinnace, and yawl 
went on shore again, landed near the river where they had been the night 
before, and attempted to find a watering-place. Several of the natives 
came toward them, and, with much entreating, we prevailed on some of 
them to cross the river, to whom we gave several things, which they carried 
back to their companions on the other side of the river, who seemed to be 
highly pleased with them and testified their joy by a war-dance. Appearing 
to be so pacifically disposed, our company went over to them and were 
received in a friendly manner. Some of the natives were armed with 
lances, and others with a kind of stone-bludgeon ; through the handle of it 
was astring which they twisted round the hand that held it when they 
attempted to strike at any person. We would have purchased some of their 
weapons, but eould not prevail on them to part with them on any terms. 
One of them, however, watched an opportunity and snatched a hanger from 
us; our people resented the affront by firing upon them and killed three of 
them on the spot; but the rest, to our surprise, did not appear to be 
intimidated at the sight of their expiring countrymen who lay weltering in 
their blood, nor did they seem to breathe any revenge upon the occasion ; 
attempting only to wrest the hanger out of the man’s hand that had been 
shot, and to take the weapons that belonged to their other two deceased 
