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Nov ] THE ANTARTIC IN TOW. 465 



numbers, in canoes that would carry from seventy-five to one hundred 

 and fifty men. On approaching the vessel they appeared to be almost 

 wild with curiosity, astonishment, and numberless other sensations ; 

 performing a thousand curious antics, and using the most extravagant 

 gestures. They then held forth a long harangue, the subject of which 

 we could not comprehend, as neither my Manilla-men nor the natives of 

 Yap understood a word they uttered. After this they made no scruple 

 of coming alongside ; but refused to trade, their sole object, which they 

 took no pains to conceal, being plunder and perhaps massacre. 



They appeared to consider the Antarctic as a God-send, driven into 

 their vicinity for their benefit ; and that all they had to do was to tow 

 her on to the reef, and take possession, not doubting for a moment that 

 the men on board were so completely in their power as not even to be 

 consulted on the subject. They accordingly handed us their warps, 

 directing us to make them fast to the stern of the vessel, that part of 

 the Antarctic being nearest to the islands, as she was lying-to with her 

 head off-shore. When this was done, they all dropped astern, and as 

 the wind was then blowing directly towards the group, they set 

 their sails, hove them aback, and with the assistance of their paddles, 

 soon got rapid stern-way on the Antarctic, towing her directly on to 

 the reef, which was then only about one-third of a mile distant, directly 

 under our lee. 



Their temporary success filled them with so much joy that they 

 could not contain themselves, but soon got into confusion. In fact, 

 they testified such excessive delight, that I almost regretted being under 

 the necessity of dashing a cup of joy so full and mantling. But the 

 Antarctic was not my property ; and though authorized to give them 

 beads, trinkets, and other baubles, I did not feel myself at liberty to 

 relinquish vessel and all. I accordingly gave the word, and the fore- 

 topsail and head-sails were immediately filled, which soon turned the 

 tide of affairs. The towers now became the towed, until the vessel 

 had acquired such rapid headway as to part all their lines, which 

 saved us the trouble of cutting or casting them off. 



This unlooked-for termination of their enterprise struck them with 

 astonishment and dismay ; and for a few moments they remained 

 passive, gazing at each other, and after the Antarctic, in speechless 

 wonder. But as soon as they saw the Antarctic heave-to again, which 

 was done as soon as she had sufficiently lengthened her distance from 

 the reef, they seemed to be animated with new hopes, and all paddled 

 up alongside, apparently determined to adopt some other method of 

 carrying the vessel. When they had approached within a few yards 

 of us, they commenced darting their spears at our bodies ; but fortu- 

 nately, none of them did any injury. I now thought it high time to 

 put a stop to this trifling, and ordered a few guns to be fired over their 

 heads. This manosuvre had the desired effect, as about fifteen hundred 

 of the poor terrified assailants jumped into the water; where nothing 

 but their black curly heads could be seen when the smoke had dis- 

 persed. The flame and the smoke, and the whistling of the balls 

 through the air just over their heads, and above all the roar of the 

 cannon, almost deprived them of their senses ; so that one of them, in 



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