110 SURVEY OF TOE INTERTROPICAL 
1818. preparations to take their bearings, and while 
May 17 . the boat’s crew were landing the theodolite, our 
party were amusing themselves on the top of 
the hill. 
Suddenly however, but fortunately before we 
had dispersed, we were surprised by natives, 
who, coming forward armed with spears, obliged 
us very speedily to retreat to the boat ; and in 
the sauve qui peut sort of way in which we ran 
down the hill, at which we have frequently since 
laughed very heartily, our theodolite stand and Mr. 
Cunningham’s insect-net were left behind, which 
they instantly seized upon. I had fired my fowl- 
ing-piece at an iguana just before the appearance 
of the natives, so that we were without any 
means of defence ; but, having reached the boat 
without accident, where we had our musquets 
ready, a parley was commenced for the purpose 
of recovering our losses. After exchanging a 
silk-handkerchief for a dead bird, which they 
threw into the water for us to pick up, we 
made signs that we wanted fresh water, upon 
which they directed us to go round the point, 
and upon our pulling in that direction, they 
followed us, skipping from rock to rock with 
surprising dexterity and speed. As soon as 
we reached the sandy beach, on the north side 
of Luxmore Head, they stopped and invited 
