THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
447 
us low bows. We returned the civility; but this did not 
infpire them with fufficient confidence to wait for our land¬ 
ing ; for the moment we put the boats afhore, they retired. 
I followed them alone, without any thing in my hand; 
and by figns and geftures prevailed on them to hop, and 
to receive fome trifling prefents. In return for thefe, 
they gave me two fox-fkins, and a couple of fea-horfe 
teeth. I cannot fay whether they or I made the firft pre- 
fent; for it appeared to me that they had brought down 
with them thefe things for this very purpofe; and that 
they would have given them to me, even though I had 
made no return. 
They feemed very fearful and cautious; expreffing their 
defire, by figns, that no more of our people ffiould be per¬ 
mitted to come up. On my laying my hand on the fhoul- 
der of one of them, he flatted back feveral paces. In pro¬ 
portion as I advanced, they retreated backward ; always in 
the attitude of being ready to make ufe of their fpears; 
while thofe on the riling ground flood ready to fupport them 
with their arrows. Infenfibly, myfelf, and two or three of 
my companions, got in amongfl them. A few beads diflri- 
buted to thofe about us, foon created a kind of confidence; 
fo that they were not alarmed when a few more of our 
people joined us; and, by degrees, a fort of traffic between 
us commenced. In exchange for knives, beads, tobacco,, 
and other articles, they gave us fome of their clothing, and 
a few arrows. But nothing that we had to offer could in¬ 
duce them to part with a fpear, or a bow. Thefe they held 
in conftant readinefs, never once quitting them, except at 
one time, when four or five perfons laid theirs down, while 
they gave us a fong and a dance. And even then, they placed 
them in fuch a manner, that they could lay hold of them 
1778. 
Auguft, 
'---> 
in 
