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detachment, who drove them from the wood in which 
they had concealed themselves. Subsequent attacks 
of this nature convinced the colonists that they must 
not expect a continuance of peace. The conduct of the 
French in their former attempts, had rendered the 
natives suspicious, and it would require a long pro¬ 
cess of time to remove those suspicions and establish 
an entire confidence. 
Several short excursions were made by the governor 
into the interior, with the view of learning the man¬ 
ners and dispositions of the natives. In one of 
these he discovered a copper mine, on a mountain, 
at a place called Manambai. It had remained a doubt 
whether this metal existed in a mineral state on the 
island, but this circumstance has set the matter at rest. 
The colony had hardly been established a month, 
before a dangerous conspiracy was formed, amongst 
the officers and privates, against the governor. Their 
plan was to desert, to the number of sixty, and join 
the natives, who were hostile, in the destruction of 
the establishment, and afterwards to return to Europe 
by a private vessel. This conspiracy was fortunately 
discovered in time, and by a prudent firmness, the 
governor brought back the greater part of them to a 
sense of their duty. 
Hyavi, the chief of Foule Point, having been 
informed of the establishment of the colony, sent to 
congratulate the governor, and to request him to 
establish a post for trade in his dominions. The 
chiefs of St. Mary also waited upon him with a 
o 
