THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
their figns) to intimate a defire to look round the cove, and 
were probably induced to take a view of the new-arrived 
creatures, whom accident and misfortune had thrown upon 
this illand. There was among them a Rupack , who was 
judged, by the kind of bone on his arm, to be of an in¬ 
ferior order ; but the linguift being abfent, it was impoftible 
to difcover who they were. Captain Wilson conducted 
them round the cove, and fhewed them the works which 
were begun. They remained on fhore little more than an 
hour, and appeared greatly fatisfied ; departing full of ac¬ 
knowledgments for the civilities which had been fhewn 
them, neither they or their attendants pilfering, or afking 
for any thing. 
Our people now opened a communication from one tent 
to the other, through which they might retreat, or join, in 
cafe of an attack ; and they alfo fettled the plan of defence 
within the barricade, and each man had his poll affigned 
him. The reafon of making thefe preparations was, the 
long ftay the people made who were gone with the King to 
battle; they underftood that they would be back in four or 
five days, and this was the ninth morning they had been 
abfent. In the afternoon four other canoes were perceived 
making into the harbour; by the boatmen fplafhing and 
fiourifhing their paddles, our people conceived the King was 
on board one of them, but to their great fatisfa£iion they foon 
faw they were their countrymen returned,—They were wel¬ 
comed! 
87 
1783. 
AUGUST 
