THE PELEW ISLANDS, 
213 
quarter-mailer, in making the matts out of fome of the 
fmall fpars faved from the wreck; fome butted in caulking 
the deck, and others in painting the fides, which, in addi¬ 
tion to the coat that the King’s people intended to give her, 
would be fufficient to keep out the weather. In the evening 
they held a confultation about the method of launching 
their veflel, which they had now nearly completed, when 
it was agreed to lay ways, though it had been propofed by 
fome to do it by large rollers, as they fometimes launch 
cutters.—This was a matter of ferious moment, for had any 
accident happened to the veflel during this operation, their 
tools being nearly worn out, and their former refources 
from the wreck at an end, their deftiny mutt, in all human 
probability, have been to have patted the remainder of their 
days, exiled from the reft of the world, in thefe remote 
iilands. 
This morning many hands went to work in cutting 
down trees to make blocks, and launching ways, others 
in giving the bottom of the veflel another coat of Cbi- 
nam . Two canoes being feen near the harbour, before 
night, and neither of them coming in, was a circumftance 
which contributed not a little to increafe the fufpicions 
entertained by our people, thefe canoes being conjectured 
to be fpies watching their motions; they having enter¬ 
tained an idea that the natives intended to prevent their 
departure. At dark they went to a quarter watch, loaded 
the fwivels and ftx-pounder with grape-ftiot, and kept 
7 a good 
W 8 3- 
NOVEMBER. 
Tuefday 4. 
