TYE AND SUALIB. 255 



cutter had gone on shore. As soon as he saw what was going for- 

 ward, he opened a fire on the natives, but without effect ; for they, 

 notwithstanding, collected around Mr. Knox's party, and gave them 

 to understand that they must abandon the boat and go on board the 

 launch. Having no choice left, he took out all the arms and the 

 chronometers, and, keeping the natives at bay, by pointing the guns 

 at them and threats of killing them, the crew reached the launch in 

 safety. The natives took possession of the first cutter, dragged her 

 over the reef, and stripped her of every thing. They then appeared 

 to be eagerly watching the launch, at which they occasionally fired 

 their muskets, with which they are better provided on this island than 

 elsewhere. They did not prove good marksmen, however, for they 

 did no damage. 



Two natives, from another part of the shore, now swam off to the 

 launch, with offers of assistance to Lieutenant Perry ; but he supposed 

 that this was done to spy out his weakness, and learn how to take ad- 

 vantage of it. He, therefore, at once seized and retained them. They 

 proved to be a great chief and an inferior one. After he had obtained 

 possession of these men, the natives on shore gave him no further 

 trouble, but remained lurking about the mangroves. 



The next morning, the weather having moderated, he was enabled 

 to get out of the bay, and reached the ship at the above date. 



This occurrence was another cause of detention. Immediately on 

 receiving the report, I ordered the two prisoners to be put into irons, 

 and the schooner and eight boats, four from each ship, to be ready for 

 service at sunset. Twenty additional men and officers were put on 

 board the tender. Captain Hudson and myself both accompanied the 

 party, which left the ships at the appointed time. Our first ren- 

 dezvous was about twelve miles from the ship, and it was my 

 intention to reach Sualib by daylight the next morning. We, how- 

 ever, found so much sea on the outside of the reefs, from the late 

 gale, that it was difficult to pull against it. Tom Granby, of whom I 

 have before spoken, took an oar in my boat, somewhat reluctantly, 

 to pull with the crew. It was no sinecure, particularly to one who 

 was not accustomed to rowing, and Tom soon grew weary, as became 

 quite apparent to me, by an occasional expression of fatigue, which 

 an oar twenty feet long soon brings about. After a hard pull, Ave 

 reached the small island, and I immediately ordered the few boats' 

 crews that had arrived to get what rest they could previous to the 



