THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
had difcovered, as they converfed together, and kept fled- 
faflly looking towards that part of the fhore where they 
were ; our people were defired to be prepared for the 
worfl, but by no means to appear for the prefen t, or fhew 
any figns of diflrufl when they did, unlefs the behaviour 
of the natives to them fhould render it abfolutely neceffary. 
In this fliort interval of time the canoes had advanced cau- 
tioufly towards the fliore, where they flood, when Captain 
Wilson defired Tom Rose to fpeak to them in the Malay 
language, which they did not feem to underhand, but 
flopped their canoes; yet foon after one of them fpoke in 
the Malay tongue, and afked who they were ? and whether 
they were friends or enemies ? To thefe queflions Tom 
Rose was dire£led to reply, “ That they were unfortunate 
66 Rngli/hmeriy who had loll their fhip upon the reef, and 
a had faved their lives, and were their friends.” Upon this 
they fpoke a few words together (which was fince fuppofed 
to have been the Malay man explaining to them what had 
been faid) and prefently they ilepped out of the canoe? 
into the water, and came towards the fhore, on which 
Captain Wilson waded into the water to meet them, and 
embracing them in a friendly manner, conducted them, 
to the fliore, and introduced them to his officers and 
unfortunate companions; they were eight in number, two 
of whom it was afterwards known were brothers to the 
King* They left one man in each canoe; and, as they wer@ 
coming; 
n 
1783. 
august 
