I77+- upon the beft terms with Oc t o b e r . t the natives, who freely offered
their women to the failors, when M. Marion went on fliore
with feveral people, to vifit the different parties who were
at work, without leaving word that he intended to come
back to the fliip the fame day. His firft vifit to the wa-
terers being performed, he went to the Hippah, or fortification
of the natives, where he commonly ufed to call in his
way to the carpenters, who were encamped in the woods
with M. Crozet. Here however, it feems he was cut off,
with his company, and boat’s crew. The next morning,
the lieutenant, who commanded on board, not knowing
what had happened, fent a party to cut wood within the
neck of land, which may be feen in captain Cook’s draught
of this bay *. A party of the natives -waited the opportunity
when every one was at work to fall upon the French,
and killed them all, except a Angle failor who ran over the
ifthmus, and threw himfelf into the fea, in order to fwim
towards the Chips, though he was wounded by feveral
fpears. He called out at laft, and being taken on board,
gave the general alarm. M. Cromet’s fituation in the woods
with a fmall party, was the moll critical. A corporal and
four marines were immediately difpatehed, to acquaint
him of his danger, while feveral boats attended to receive
his party, at a place where the fick had been lodged in
tents for the recovery of their health. He difpoied every
See Hawkefworth, vol, II. p. 323.
thing as well as the time would permit, and effected his
retreat to the fea-fide. Here however, he found a prodigious
croud of the natives affembled, dreft out in their
beft habits, with feveral chiefs at their head. M. Crozet,
told the four marines, to be ready in cafe he found it ne~
ceffary, to fire at fuch perfons as he (hould point out. He
gave orders to his party to ftrike the tents of the fick, to
embark all their tools and apparatus, and to retire into
the boat, whilft he with the foldiers walked up to the
chief. This man immediately told him, that M. Marion
was killed by another chief whom he named. M. Crozet
took up a flake, and forcing it into the ground, juft before
the feet of the chief, bid him advance no further. The
violence of the aftion ftartled the favage, whofe irrefolution
M. Crozet obferving, infilled on his commanding the croud
to fit down, which was accordingly complied with. He
now walked up and down before the New Zeelanders, till
all his men were in the boat; his foldiers were ordered to
follow, and himfelf was the laft who embarked. He had
fcarce put off, when the whole body of New Zeelanders
rofe, began their fong of defiance, and threw ftones after
him ; however, by the timely exertion of his people, they
all came fafe on board. The New Zeelanders from, this
time forward, made feveral attempts to cut him off. They
made an expedition againft the watering-party at night,
which, but for the vigilance of the French, would have been
fatal
>774*
October»