24 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1S21. got clear off; although one of them by his limp- 
June 22 , ing appeared to have been struck in the leg. 
After this we saw nothing more of them for 
the day. Mr. Bedwell was employed with his 
party at the wreck, whilst Mr. Cunningham 
traversed the hills in the vicinity, for it was 
not safe to trust himself at any distance from 
our people, since the natives would not have 
failed, had they met with an opportunity, to 
punish us for our broken faith, 
gs. The following day, on the return of our people 
from the wreck, they reported that the natives 
had shewn themselves on the opposite side of the 
bay; I therefore went to the shore with Mr. 
Harrison, to endeavour to make peace, but saw 
no signs of them, excepting a smoke on the next 
island, to which they had probably retired. On 
the following day they were again seen, and fired 
upon by the boat’s crew of the Dick. 
All these events gave me much concern, not 
only because the natives may be induced to attack 
and take revenge upon strangers who may sub- 
sequently pass this way, but also because they 
must have imbibed a very poor idea of the effect 
of our arms, when so many muskets were fired 
without doing them any mischief: and, but for 
the sake of humanity, I could almost have wished 
that one had been killed. 
