66 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1 ^. The wound, from which he was suffering very 
Aug. 7, great pain, was dressed according to his in- 
structions, but it was several days before he con- 
sidered himself out of danger. 
8- The next morning, at eleven o’clock, a native 
was seen on a float, or catamaran, paddling 
round the west point of the strait, and another 
man, a woman, and a child, were observed on the 
rocks, who, in less than a quarter of an hour, 
came down to the spot where we met them 
yesterday, and began to wave and call to us. 
An opportunity now offered of punishing these 
wretches for their treacherous conduct, and of 
disappointing them in their present plans, for 
they were evidently intent upon some mischief. 
Mr. Bedwell was therefore despatched to secure 
their catamaran, which was hauled up on a sandy 
beach near the outer point, whilst another boat 
was sent towards the native^s: when the latter 
arrived near the shore, they were sitting on the 
rock, and inviting us to land ; but it was necessary 
to convince them that we were not so defence- 
less as they imagined, and, as soon as we were 
sufiiciently near, several muskets were fired over 
their heads: one of them fell down behind a 
rock, but the other made off. The native who 
had fallen was wounded in the shoulder, and 
was recognised to be the man that speared Mr. 
