A VOYAGE TO 
1778- Wefterly, veered to South Eaft, and increased to a very-hard 
« gale, with rain, which continued till eight o’clock the next 
Wednef. 15. morning, when it abated, and veered again to the Weft. 
The fore-maft being, by this time, finifhed, we hauled it 
along-ftde; but the bad weather prevented our getting it in 
till the afternoon; and we fet about rigging it with the 
greateft expedition, while the carpenters were going on with 
the mizen-maft on fhore. They had made very confiderable 
Tkurfday 16. progrefs in it on the 16th ; when they difcovered that the 
ftick upon which they were at work was fprung, or wound¬ 
ed ; owing, as fuppofed, to fome accident in cutting it 
down. So that all their labour was thrown away; and it 
became neceftary to get another tree out of the woods, 
which employed all hands above half a day. During thefe 
various operations, feveral of the natives, who were about 
the fhips, looked on with an expreflive ftlent furprize, 
which we did not expedt, from their general indifference 
and inattention. 
Saturday is. On the 18th, a party of ftrangers, in fix or eight canoes, 
came into the coVe, where they remained, looking at us, 
for fome time; and then retired, without coming along- 
fide either fhip. We fuppofed, that our old friends, who 
were more numerous, at this time, about us, than thefe new 
vifiters, would not permit them to have any intercourfe with 
us. It was evident, upon this and feveral other occafions, 
that the inhabitants of the adjoining parts of the Sound en¬ 
grafted us entirely to themfelves; or if, at any time, they 
did not hinder ftrangers from trading with us, they con¬ 
trived to manage the trade for them in fuch a manner, that 
the price of their commodities was always kept up, while 
the value of ours was leflening every day. We alfo found, 
that many of the principal natives, who lived near us, car- 
I ried 
