ANNIVEESART ADDRESS. 19 



a time, while the rest stood ready for their defence ; recommend- 

 ing to him, in the strongest terms, an application to his duty, 

 without regarding any other object, as the finding a proper place 

 for the ship was of the utmost importance to us all ; and conjur- 

 ing him to return as soon as this service should be performed, 

 with all possible speed. 



" Soon after I had dispatched the cutter on this expedition, I 

 sent the long boat with ten men on board well armed to the 

 shore, who before 8 o'clock brought off a tun of water. About 9 

 I sent her off again, but soon after seeing some of the natives 

 advancing along the shore towards the place where the men 

 landed, I made the signal for them to return, not knowing to 

 what number they would be exposed, and having no boat to send 

 off with assistance if they should be attacked. 



" Our men had not long returned on board, when we saw three 

 of the natives sit down under the trees abreast of the ship. As 

 they continued there gazing at us till the afternoon, as soon as 

 the cutter came in sight, not caring that both the boats should 

 be absent at the same time, I sent my lieutenant in the longboat 

 with a few beads, ribbons, and trinkets, to endeavour to establish 

 some kind of intercourse with them, and by their means with the 

 rest of the inhabitants ; these men, however, before the boat 

 could reach the shore, quitted their station, and proceeded along 

 the beach. As the trees would sooa prevent their being seen by 

 our people, who were making towards the land, we kept our eyes 

 fixed upon them from the ship, and very soon perceived that they 

 were met by three others. After some conversation, the first 

 three went on, and those who met them proceeded towards the 

 boat with a hasty pace. Upon this I made the signal to the 

 lieutenant to be upon his guard, and as soon as he saw the 

 Indians, observing that they were more than three, he backed the 

 boat in to the shore, and making signs of friendship, held up to 

 them the beads and ribbons which I had given him as presents, 

 our people at the same time carefully concealing their arms. The 

 Indians, however, taking no notice of the beads and ribbons, 



