THE PELEW ISLANDS, 
and renewed their felicitations on the fubjeCt of the 
fwivel-gun; every argument was ufed to make them fen- 
fible of the impracticability of rendering it of any life in 
their canoes.—Soon after other of his men arrived, bringing 
a prefent of fome fine fifli and a turtle.—-The King after 
, * 
came round himfelf, attended by ten or twelve canoes.— 
The requefi: of the fwivel was again ftrongly urged 
by the Chief Minifler , and our people thereby compelled 
to recur to all the arguments before made ufe of; and as 
our men were all drawn up with their arms, Mr. Benger, 
willing to cut off all further entreaty on the fubjeCt, or¬ 
dered them into the canoes. — One very material ob¬ 
jection againft complying with their defire was, the great 
confumption of powder it would occafion; befides which* 
the necefiity there would have been of the Gunner’s at¬ 
tendance, who was too ufeful a man to be fpared. 
Abba Thulle and his retinue now embarked, and 
there was reafon to fear that this refufal had not made 
them depart in the good-humour that could have been 
wifhed.—-Before the canoes were out of fight, the Gunner 
made a report of the arms and ammunition taken on the 
expedition, which appearing rather large (as Mr. Benger 
had taken piftols and cutlafies unknown to the Captain) 
occafioned fome uneafinefs, in the particular fituation they 
at that time flood.—It -was therefore thought advifable to 
S 2 keep 
131 
1783. 
SEPTEMBER. 
