geftures. One of our firft requefts was, that they fliould
fit down ; which was imperfectly complied with: another,
that they fhould not tranfgrefs a line which we drew on
the fand ; and to this they readily affented. We prefently
found a pond of very palatable frefli water, and made Cgns
to the natives, that we came to provide ourfelves from
thence, and that we alfo deftred leave to cut fome trees.
They immediately pointed out feveral wild trees which we
might cut, only excepting the coco-palms, of which innumerable
quantities covered the fhore. We filled two fmall
barrels with water, and cut down a few trees, to fliew m
what manner we intended to proceed; and the natives appeared
to be fatisfied. Our marines were however drawn
up, and the leaft motion they made fo terrified the inhabitants,
that they ran off to a confiderable diftance, only a few
old men remaining near us. We deftred them to lay down
their arms ; and even in this demand, which was in itfelf un-
reafonable, the greateft part acquiefced. Their ftature was
of the middle fize, and their perfons infinitely ftronger, and
better proportioned, than thofe of the Mallicollefe. Their
colour was a dark or chefnut brown, with a very
fwarthy mixture. Like the natives of Mallicollo, they went
ftark naked, having only a firing round the belly, which
did not cut their body in fuch a fhocking manner, as we
had obferved at that ifland. We faw fome women at a diftance,
who did not feem to be fo ugly as thofe of Mallicollo,
and
and wore a kind of petticoat, which defcended below the
knee. Two girls had each a long fpear in their hand, but
did not venture nearer than the reft. We collected a number
of words from thefe people, among which, far the
greateft part were entirely new to us; but fometimes they
exprefled the fame idea by two words, one of which was
new, and the other correfponded with the language of the
Friendly Iflands; from whence we had reafon to conclude,
that they have fome neighbours of the other race, who
fpeak that language. They alfo told us, that they call
their own ifland T a n n a , a word which fignifies “ earth" in
the Malay language. This laft we looked upon as a great
acquifition ; for the indigenous name of a country is always
permanent. We made but a fliort flay among thefe people,
and returned on board as foon as we had filled our
calks. We now thought the peace concluded, and every
difficulty conquered ; but we found matters in a very different
fituation the next morning. Our interconrfe with
them had hitherto been peaceable, becaufe they did not
feel themfelves a match for u s ; but it feems they were very
far from purpofing to give us free admittance into their
country. They looked upon us as invaders, and appeared
jealous of their property, and refolved to defend it.
We faw the flame of the volcano in the evening, blazing
up, with an explofion once in five minutes or thereabouts.
The tranfa&ions of the day prevented my fpeaking of this
M m 2 wonderful
1774-
A ugust .