192 
MOLESTED BY NATIVES. 
and they were so clamorous, that it was impossible to 
sleep. 
As the morning broke, Hopkinson came to inform me that 
it was in vain that the guard endeavoured to prevent them 
from handling every thing, and from closing in round our 
camp. I went out, and from what I saw I thought it ad- 
viseable to double the sentries. M'Leay, who was really 
tired, being unable to close his eyes amid such a din, got 
up in ill-humour, and went to see into the cause, and to 
check it if he could. This, however, was impossible. 
One man was particularly forward and insolent, at whom 
M'Leay, rather imprudently, threw a piece of dirt. The 
savage returned the compliment with as much good will as 
it had been given, and appeared quite prepared to act on 
the offensive. At this critical moment my servant came to 
the tent in which I was washing myself, and stated his 
fears that we should soon come to blows, as the natives 
shewed every disposition to resist us. On learning what 
had passed between M'Leay and the savage, I pretended 
to be equally angry with both, and with some difficulty 
forced the greater part of the blacks away from the tents. 
I then directed the men to gather together all the minor ar- 
ticles in the first instance, and then to strike the tents ; and, in 
order to check the natives, I drew a line round the camp, 
over which I intimated to them they should not pass. 
Observing, I suppose, that we were on our guard, and that 
I, whom they well knew to be the chief, was really angry, 
they crept away one by one, until the island was almost 
