118 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. Before our party reached the shore the next morning, one of the 
natives was perceived carrying off a small cask that had been left there 
the preceding night. We watched him through our telescopes, and 
observed him conceal it with a large mat which he carried with him. 
He had doubtless no suspicion that his actions could be observed at so 
great a distance, as he began to retrace his steps along the open beach ; 
but seeing he was not sufficiently quick to escape the boats that were 
going on shore, he quitted his prize, and hid himself in the wood. The 
watering had not long been renewed before a large party collected 
upon the height above them, headed by two men, who appeared to be 
chiefs, with loose white turbans and cloaks : the eldest led the party 
cautiously down the hill, and made a stand at a large stone, which 
one of the party ascended, and there waved a banana leaf. We 
answered this friendly signal by waving in return a white flag from the 
ship : but here our amity ended ; for while this was going forward the 
other chief stood upon the ridge, and beckoned to the natives on the 
other side of the hill to join him, which greatly augmented his num- 
bers ; and some of them loosened large stones, apparently with a view 
of annoying our watering party, who were so situated under the hill 
that a few such fragments precipitated upon them would cause very 
serious mischief. As there was every appearance of treachery, the boats 
were put upon their guard by signal ; but the barge mistaking its 
purport, fired two shot to dislodge the islanders, both of which, to their 
great astonishment, fell very close to them, and they retired to the other 
side of the ridge. Some, however, had the curiosity to return and examine 
the place, and, after a little digging, found one of the shot, which they car- 
ried to their comrades, many of whom assembled round the prize, never 
probably having had so large a piece of iron in their possession before. 
At noon on the oth the watering was completed, and without any 
accident or sickness, which, considering the difficulty of getting the 
casks off, and the constant exposure to a vertical sun while in the water, 
there was every reason to apprehend. It was further satisfactory to 
find that this service had been effected without any harm to the natives, 
except in one instance, when a marine inconsiderately fired at a party 
who were lurking in the wood, and wounded one of them in the foot. 
