[ 5°5 ] 



a pole, fixed very near to their houfe, and advancing to the op* 

 polite bank without any arms, they made feveral figns*, which 

 we did not comprehend. We however fignified to them in the 

 beft manner we could that we came only for water m ; on which 

 the chieftain of the Indians, conceiving that we were very dry, 

 brought with him a cup of it, with fome cured rim, as far as 

 the middle of the river, where it was received by one of our 

 feamen, who directed the Indian to prefent the water and rim to 

 our captain, who immediately returned him in exchange bugles 

 and fmall pieces of cloth. The Indians however were not to be 

 fo latisfied, but infifted on other barter for the water, which we 

 refuting on our part, they threatened us with long and large 

 lances pointed with flint, which we paid no other attention to 

 but that of fecuring our poll:. Our aflailants at laft rinding that 



we 



m The behaviour of thefe Indians in their intercourfe with the Spa- 

 niards feems to prove a rather fuperior degree of civilization, than is ge- 

 nerally experienced from Barbarians. 



We find by this account, that the Spaniards, having fixed a crofs 

 upon their ground, the Indians refent this mark of ownerfhip, and (as 

 a Spaniard would have done in his own country if his neighbour thus 

 endeavoured to make good a claim) immediately remove the crofs ; in 

 which the laws of Europe would certainly have fupported them. The 

 leaving any fymbol of poffeffion upon an uninhabited and uncultivated 

 diftrict may indeed give a right agaiffft pofterior claimants who cannot 

 fet up a better; but this part of the American continent was not only 

 peopled, but we are informed a houfe and fifhing-ftage had been built 

 upon it. 



We find by this journal, that the Vieeroy of Mexico moft particu- 

 larly enjoined by his inftructions that poffeffion fhould be thus taken, 

 conceiving probably that the converting Indians to the Chriftian faith, 

 entitles the converter to every thing which may belong to the converts. 

 This fiimfy right however could not be maintained an inftant even upon 

 this ground, in any Court of common fenfe, for the Spaniards neither 

 intended then, or hereafter, to make a fettlement in this Northern Lati- 

 tude, without which it is impoffible that fuch pious intentions could be 

 accompliflied. 



Ttt The 



