N ov1e7m 74b-e
every minute, as we traded eagerly for fifli, which they
were equally eager to fell. Our friend Tringho-Bohee,
however, feemed to diflike the arrival of fo many people,
efpecially as the price of his fifh fell, in proportion
as the market was better fupplied. A great number
of them likewife brought their arms and clothes
to fell, and moft of them went naked, except a fmall
piece of mat girt about the loins, this day being- remarkably
mild, and the place (hdtered from all winds.
After flaying here about a quarter of an hour, captain
Cook reimbarked with us, which was the more advifeable,
as many of the natives -who arrived laft, brought, their
arms, and the whole croud now amounted to two hundred
and upwards, a much greater number than we had fufpefted
the found to contain, or had ever feen afiembled together.
We had already put off, when a failor acquainted the captain,
that he had bought a bundle of fifh from one .of the
natives, for which he had not paid him. Captain Cook
took the laft nail which was left, and .calling to the native,
threw it on the beach at his feet. The favage being offended,
or thinking -himfelf attacked, picked up a ftone,
and threw it into the boat with great force, but luckily
without hitting any one of us. We now called to him
again, and pointed to the nail which we had thrown towards
him. As foon as he had feen, and picked it up, he laughed
at his own petulance, and feemed highly pleafed with our
condudt
conduit towards him. This circumftance, with a little A tw i«
rafhnefs on our part, might have become very fatal to us,
or might at leaft have involved us in a dangerous quarrel.
If we had refented the affront of being pelted with a ftone,
the whole body would have joined in the caufe of their
countryman, and we muft have fallen an eafy prey to their
numbers, being at the diftance of five or fix leagues from
the fliip, without any hopes of affiftance. It was fortunate
that we were not acquainted at that time with the wretched
fate of Mr. Rowe and his companions ; elfe the unexpected
meeting with fuch a body of natives, would greatly have
alarmed ns, efpecially as it appears probable from their
fitUation, that they acted a principal part in his maffacre.
When we confider the numerous opportunities which we
gave the natives to cut us off, by leaving our boats, walking
up hills, landing in their populous fettlements, going
among them unarmed, and the like ; it becomes every moment
clearer to me, ' that their friendlhip is always to be
trufted, unlefs it is infringed on our part, and that accordingly
they did not cut off the Adventure’s people without
provocation. It muft neverthelefs be acknowledged, that
we were peculiarly fortunate in our excurfions, which Providence
always guided in fuch a manner, that we did not
fall unawares into the hands of any families of the natives,
with whom we had not concluded a previous treaty of
peace.
V o l . II. FP Pp Pp The The