106 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, opening of a cask of sour krout, though considerably more overpowering. 
We soon perceived they had a previous knowledge of iron, but they had 
Dec. no idea of the use of a musket. When one was presented to induce them 
1 82 ) ^ 
to desist from their riotous conduct, instead of evading the direction of 
the fatal charge, they approached it ; and imagining the gun was offered 
to them, they innocently held out their hands to accept it. Before we 
came close to them, they tempted us with cocoa-nuts and roots, per- 
formed ludicrous dances, and invited our approach ; but as soon as we 
were within reach, the scene was changed to noise and confusion. They 
seized the boat by the gunwale, endeavoured to steal every thing that 
was loose, and demanded whatever we held in our hand, without seeming 
in the least disposed to give any thing of their own in return. At 
length some of them grasped the boat’s yoke, which was made of copper, 
and others the rudder, which produced a scuffle, and obliged me to 
fire my gun over their heads. Upon the discharge, all but four in- 
stantly plunged into the sea ; but these, though for a moment motionless 
with astonishment, held firmly by the rudder, until they were rejoined by 
their companions, and then foi’cibly made it their prize. We could 
only have prevented this by the use of fire-arms, but I did not choose 
to resort to such a measure for so trifling an end, especially as the barge 
w'as approaching, and afforded the most likely means of recovering our 
loss without the sacrifice oflife on their part, or the risk of being upset 
on our own. As I intended to remain some days at these islands, I 
wished by all means to avoid a conflict ; at the same time it was essen- 
tial to our future tranquillity to show a resolution to resist such un- 
warrantable conduct, and to convince them of our determination to en- 
force a respect of property. As soon, therefore, as we were joined by 
the barge, we grappled the raft that contained our rudder ; on which the 
greater part of the natives again threw themselves into the sea; but those 
who remained appeared determined to resist our attack, and endeavoured 
to push the boat off. Finding, however, they could not readily do this, 
a man whose long beard was white with age, offered us the disputed 
article, and we were on the point of receiving it, which would have put 
an end to all strife, when one of the natives disengaged the raft, and 
she went astern. Again free, the rudder was replaced on the raft, and 
