58 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. They began, at firft, to attack us with ftones, from be- 
Febiuary^ t h e wa Hs of their inclofures, and finding no reliftance 
on our part, they foon grew more daring. A few refolute 
fellows, having crept along the beach, under cover of the 
rocks, fuddenly made their appearance at the foot of the 
Moral , with a defign, as it feemed, of ftorming it on the fide 
next the fea, which was its only accefiible part; and were 
not diflodged, till after they had flood a confiderable num¬ 
ber of fhot, and feen one of their party fall. 
The bravery of one of thefe affailants well deferves to 
be particularly mentioned. For having returned to carry 
off his companion, amidft the fire of our whole party, a 
wound, which he received, made him quit the body and 
retire ; but, in a few minutes, he again appeared, and be¬ 
ing again wounded, he was obliged a fecond time to re¬ 
treat. At this moment I arrived at the Moral , and faw him 
return the third time, bleeding and faint; and being in¬ 
formed of what had happened, I forbad the foldiers to fire, 
and he was fuffered to carry off his friend; which he was 
juft able to perform, and then fell down himfelf, and ex¬ 
pired. 
About this time, a ftrong reinforcement from both fhips 
having landed, the natives retreated behind their walls; 
which giving me accefs to our friendly priefts, I fent one 
of them to endeavour to bring their countrymen to fome 
terms, and to propofe to them, that if they would defift 
from throwing ftones, I would not permit our men to fire. 
This truce was agreed to, and we were fuffered to launch 
the mail, and carry off the fails, and our aftronomical ap¬ 
paratus unmolefted. As foon as we had quitted the Moraiy 
they took poffeflion of it, and fome of them threw a few 
ftones; but without doing us any mifchief. 
It 
