290 BRAMBLE FIRES ON THE NATIVES. 



into the chains^ but^ owing' to an unavoidable occur- 

 rence^ no return was made for it^ upon which the 

 owner snatched the cap from off the head of a marine 

 attending' at the gangTvay. The canoe which had 

 brought the pig' then shoved off, and, on being' 

 directed by gestures to return the cap, one man 

 stood up and poised his spear, and the others got 

 their arms ready. Several musket shots were fired 

 into the canoe from a distance of six or seven yards, 

 but, regarding the effect, conflicting statements have 

 been made. No resistance was attempted, as, after 

 the first shot, some of the natives jumped into the 

 water and aU made off in confusion, which was 

 further increased when a round shot was fired in the 

 direction of a distant canoe coming' out from the 

 shore. 



Sept. 21st — Took a passage in a boat sent with 

 Lieut. Simpson to get a round of angles on one of 

 three neighbouring islands (afterwards called Pari- 

 wara, the native name), situated two miles and a 

 half N.W. from Eedscar Point, with which they 

 appear formerlj- to have been continuous, and, like 

 it, are remarkable for their red and white cliffs. 

 The largest, that on which we landed, is only three- 

 fourths of a mile in length. In shape it is somewhat 

 triangular : one side is formed by a rounded ridge, 

 the highest point of which is 334 feet in height, with 

 irregular cliffs along the sea margin; the opposite 



and prepared as a specimen, now in the British Museum, the only 

 Sus Papuensis in England at the present time. 



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