THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
9* 
they were mod eager to poffeds themdelves of, were the 
mufquets of the marines, who were, every indant, com¬ 
plaining of their attempts to force them out of their 
hands. Though they continued, for the mod: part, to pay 
great deference and redpedt to me, yet they did not fuffer 
me to efcape without contributing my fhare to their dock 
of plunder. One of them came up to me with a familiar 
air, and with great management diverted my attention, 
whild another, wrenching the hanger, which I held care- 
lefly in my hand, from me, ran off with it like light¬ 
ning. 
It was in vain to think of repelling this infolence by 
force; guarding therefore againd its effedts, in the bed 
manner we were able, we had nothing to do but to fubmit 
patiently to it. My apprehendons were, however, a little 
alarmed, by the information I foon after received from the 
ferjeant of marines, who told me, that, turning fuddenly 
round, he faw a man behind me holding a dagger in the 
podtion of driking. In this he might podibly be midaken; 
yet our dtuation was certainly alarming and critical, and the 
fmailed error on our dde might have been fatal to us. As 
our people were feparated into three fmall parties, one at 
the lake, dding calks; another rolling them down to the 
ihore; and the third, at dome didance, purchadng provi- 
fions ; it had once occurred to me, that it might be proper 
to colledt them all together, and to execute and protedt one 
duty at a time. But on fecond thoughts, I judged it more 
advifeable to let them continue as they were. In cafe of 
a real attack, our whole force, however advantageouffy dif- 
pofed, could have made but a poor reddance. On the other 
hand, I thought it of dome confequence to dhew the natives, 
that we were under no fears; and, what was dill more ma- 
N 2 terial, 
1779 - 
March. 
