234 ATTACK UPON THE SURVEYING BOATS. 



July Qth. — Lieutenants Dayman and Simpsonj 

 with the pinnace and second g'alley, returned to the 

 ship after an absence of several days. On the 

 morning' of the 4th, after having- spent the night at 

 anchor in one of the bays on the south side of 

 Joannet Island, they were attacked by the natives 

 under the following circumstances: — In the grey of 

 the morning- the look-outs reported the approach of 

 three canoes, with about ten men ia each. On two 

 or three persons shewing- themselves in the bow of 

 the pinnace in front of the rain-awning, the natives 

 ceased paddhng, as if baulked in their design of 

 surprising the large boat, but, after a short con- 

 sultation, they came alongside in their usual noisy 

 manner. Afl«r a stay of about five minutes only 

 they pushed off to the gaUey, and some more sham 

 bartering was attempted, but they had nothing to 

 give in exchange for the kelumai so much coveted. 

 In a short time the rudeness and overbearing inso- 

 lence of the natives had risen to a pitch which left 

 no doubt of their hostile intentions. The anchor was 

 got up, when some of the blacks seized the painter, 

 and others in trying to capsize the boat brought 

 the gunwale down to the water's edge, at the 

 same time grappling with the men to puU 

 them out, and dragging the galley in-shore 

 towards the shoal water. The bowman, with the 

 anchor in his hand, was struck on the head with a 

 stone-headed axe, the blow was repeated, but fortu- 

 ixately took effect only on the wash-streak ; another 



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