in the Pacific Ocean, 



87 



set the most store, are about fourteen feet in length, made of a 

 hard and black wood, called toa, which receives a polish equal to 

 ivory. These are made with much neatness, and never thrown 

 from the hand. The other kind are smaller, of a light kind of 

 wood, and are thrown with much accuracy to a great distance. 

 At certain distances from their points they are pierced with holes 

 all round, in order that they may break off, with their own 

 weight, on entering a body, and thus be more difficult to extract. 

 Their slings are made of the fibres of the bark of the cocoa-nut 

 tree, and are executed with a degree of neatness and skill not to 

 be excelled. The stones thrown from them are of an oval shape, 

 of about half a pound weight, and are highly polished, by rub- 

 bing against the bark of a tree. They are worn in a net suspended 

 about the waist, and are thrown with such a degree of velocity 

 and accuracy, as to render them almost equal to musketry. 

 Wherever they strike, they produce effect; and the numerous 

 scars, broken limbs, and fractured skulls of the natives, prove 

 that, notwithstanding their great dexterity in avoiding these mis- 

 siles, they are used with much effect. It is no uncommon thing 

 to see a warrior bearing about him the wounds of many spears, 

 some of which have transfixed his body ; some bear several wounds 

 occasioned by stones ; and I have seen several with their skulls 

 so indented, as that the whole hand might have been laid in the 

 cavity. 



On the 28th of October, Gattanewa, with several of the war- 

 riors, came to inform me that the gun was at the foot of the moun- 

 tain, where I had directed it to be carried, and that it would have 

 reached the summit by the time our people could get up there. 

 When I viewed the mountains, and imagined the difficulties they 

 would have to surmount, I could scarcely cre'dit the account they 

 ave me ; and yet I could not conceive any motive they could 

 ave for deception. I informed them that, on the next morning 

 at day-light, forty men, with their muskets, would be on shore, 

 and in readiness to march. As I supposed it would be impossi- 

 ble for our people to scale the mountains, when incumbered with 

 their arms, I desired them to send me forty Indians for the pur- 

 pose of carrying their muskets, and an equal number to carry 

 provisions as well as ammunition for the six pounder. This they 

 promised me should be done, and every arrangement was made 

 accordingly, and the command of the expedition given to Lieute- 

 nant Downes. 



On the morning of the 29th, the party being on shore, consist- 

 ing chiefly of the crew of the Essex Junior and the detachment 

 of marines, each man being furnished with an Indian to carry his 

 arms, and spare Indians to carry provisions and other articles, I 

 gave the order to march. 



