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j S down his arms. He refufed, and received a load of ihot
through his wrift and thigh, at the diftance of eight or
nine yards, which immediately brought him to the ground.
The volley was now fired, and a boat fent off to the fliip,
where three canon, directed againft the higheft point of the*
ifland, were fired off one after another. It was thought
that the natives would now have left us ; but a great part
ftill remained on the beach confcious of their innocence,
and feme canoes continued to ply about the fliip. The
behaviour of one of the natives upon this occafion was fo
remarkably ftoical, that our people could not help taking
notice of it. He had a fmall canoe in which he always
met the other canoes before they reached the fliip, took
out what he liked, and paid their owners, a certain fmall
price in European goods, which he had before obtained by
barter. With his new cargo he returned to the fliip, and
always made a confiderable profit upon his bargain. As
he never failed to vifit each canoe, our failors called him a
Cuftom-houfe officer. He was lying clofe to the fliip,
baling the water out of his canoe, when the guns were
difcharged not two yards over his head. Notwithftanding
the extraordinary concuffion at fo fliort a difiance, he never
once looked up, but continued to bale, and afterwards to
trade as if nothing had happened,
We had not long rejoined the captain and his party,
when the unlucky adze was brought back, which had
been
been the occafion of fo much mifchief. A middle-aged
woman, who feemed to have great authority, had dif-
patched fome of the people after it, and they returned at
the fame time a cartridge-box, and Mr. Patton’s fowling-
piece, which appeared to have been concealed under water.
The wounded man was brought to us on a piece of wood
carried by men. He feemed almoft without fenfation ;
and was fet on the ground, whilft the natives gradually returned,
and began to take courage. The women in particular,
were very defirous of reftoring the general tranquility,
and their timid looks feemed to charge the behaviour
of the ft rangers with cruelty. They feated them-
felves on a fine green turf, in a group of fifty or more together,
and invited feveral of us to fit by them. Each of
them had fome fhaddocks, which they broke in pieces,
and diftributed to us with every mark of kindnefs and
peace. Mr. Patton’s friend was one of the foremoft, and
indeed claimed the firft rank among the beauties of thofe
lflands, Her ftature was graceful, and her form exqui-
fitely proportioned. Her features were more regular than
any I had ever feen in thefe ifles, full of fweetnefs and
the charms of youth. Her large dark eyes fparkled,
with fire, and her ebon curls floated on her neck. She
was of a lighter colour than the common people, and
wore a brown cloth which clofely embracing the body
immediately under the breaft, but being fomewhat wider.
towards;