THE PELEW ISLANDS, 
6 5 
the fhriek, might be faid to have rather darted than to 3 7 8 3 - 
AUGUST# 
have ran to their canoes. It was a fignal obeyed more 
fuddenly than could have been conceived, and no word of 
command was ever executed with more promptitude. The 
King departed, in appearance w'ell pleafed with his vifit, 
and fatisfied with what he had feen. 
It hath been faid, in the beginning of this chapter, that 
the canoes which preceded the King, were hopped a little be¬ 
fore entering the cove, by his giving orders to the fquadron 
of thofe which were armed to detach themfelves, and go to 
the back of the ifland ; part of this manoeuvre was vilible 
from the fhore, and the red was obtained by intelligence 
from fome of our people who had been fent over land to 
the watering-place, which lay at the back of the ifland, and 
who happened to be on the fpot when the armed canoes 
arrived, which fo alarmed them, that they came with all 
pollible fpeed to give information of it. But the King 
being then with the Englijh , they were perfectly eafy, 
knowing that thefe canoes muft be part of his retinue. 
The King being then at war, would not choofe, in vifit- 
ing our people, to expofe himfelf to any infult from his 
enemies, the paffage from Pelew to this ifland being 
about feven leagues; and coming with all the fentiments of 
friendfhip, he judged it indelicate to alarm thofe who had 
fought his protection, by the formidable appearance of fuch 
numbers as accompanied him. 
K 
The 
