92 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. terial, the crowd was, by this means, kept divided, and a 
* are 8 confiderable part of them fully employed in bartering pro- 
vilions. 
It is probable, that their dread of the effeCts of our arms, 
was the principal caufe of their backwardnefs in attacking 
us ; and indeed the confidence we appeared to place in this 
advantage, by oppofing only five marines to their whole 
force, muft have raifed in them a very high idea of our fu- 
periority. It was our bufinefs to keep up this opinion as 
much as poflible ; and in juftice to the whole party, I muft 
obferve, that no men could poflibly behave better, for the 
purpofe of ftrengthening thefe impreflions. Whatever could 
be taken in jeft, they bore with the utmoft temper and pa¬ 
tience ; and whenever any ferious attempt was made to in¬ 
terrupt them, they oppofed it with bold looks and menaces. 
By this management, we fucceeded fo far, as to get all 
the calks down to the water fide, without any material 
accident. 
While we were getting them into the launch, the na¬ 
tives, perceiving the opportunity of plundering would foon 
be over, became every moment more daring and infolent. 
On this occafion, I was indebted to the ferjeant of marines 
for fuggefting to me, the advantage that would arife from 
fending off his party firft into the boats; by which means, 
the mufquets of the foldiers, which, as I have already 
mentioned, were the obje&s the illanders had principally 
in view, would be removed out of their reach; and in cafe 
of an attack, the marines themfelves might be employed 
more effectually in our defence, than if they were on 
Ihore. 
We had now got every thing into the boats, and only 
Mr. Anderfon the gunner, a feaman of the boat’s crew, and 
myfelf. 
