1767.
Wednef. 24.
Thurfday z$i
not more than ha lf a mile from the upper part of the bay,
within lefs than two cables’ length o f a fine river, and about
two and a half o f the reef. We had here nine fathom
water, and clofe to the Ihore there were five. We moored
the Ihip, and carried out the flream anchor, with the two
Ihroud haufers, for a fpring, to keep the lhip’s broad-fide
a-breaft of the river; we alfo go t up and mounted the eight
guns which had been put into the hold. As foon as this
was done, the boats were employed in founding all round
the bay, and in examining the Ihore where any o f the inhabitants
appeared, in order to difcover, whether it was probable
that they would give us any further difturbance. All
the afternoon, and part o f the next morning, was fpent in
this fervice; and about noon, the mailer returned, with a
tolerable Purvey of the place, and reported, that there were
no canoes in figh t; that there was good landing on every
part o f the beach; that there was nothing in the bay from
which danger could be apprehended, except the reef, and
fome rocks at the upper end, which appeared above water
and that the river, though it emptied ilfelf on the other fide
o f the point, was frelh water.
Soon after the mailer had brought me this account, I fent
Mr. Furneaux again, with all the boats manned and armed,.-
the marines being alfo put on board, with orders to land
oppofite to our ftation, and fecure himfelf, under cover of
the boats and the Ihip, in the cleared; ground he could find.
About two o’clock the boats landed without any oppofition,
and Mr. Furneaux ftuck up a Half, upon which he hoilled a
pendant, turned a turf, and took pofleffion o f the ifland in
his Majelty’s name, in honour of whom he called it K i n g
G eorge the T hird’s Is l a n d : he then went to the river,
and tailed the water, which he found excellent, and mixing
fome of it with rum, every man drank his Majefty’s health
^ While
While he was at the river, which was about twelve yards
wide, and fordable, he faw two old men on the oppofite fide 1——.--- >
o f it, who perceiving that they were difcovered, put them- Thurfda)'25-
felves in a fupplicatory pollure, and feemed to be in great
terror and confufion. Mr. Furneaux made figns that they
fhould come over the river, and one of them complied.
When he landed, he ca.me forward, creeping upon his hands
and knees, but Mr. Furneaux railed him up, and while he
Hood trembling, Ihewed him fome of the Hones that were
thrown at the Ihip, and endeavoured to make him apprehend
that i f the natives attempted no mifchief again!! us, we
fhould do no harm to them. He ordered two of the water
calks to be filled, to Ihew the Indian that we wanted water,
and produced fome hatchets, and other things, to intimate
that he wilhed to trade for provifions. The old man, during
this pantomimical converfation, in fome degree recovered
his fpirits ; and Mr. Furneaux, to confirm his profeflions o f
friendlhip, gave him a hatchet, fome nails, beads, and
other trifles ; after which he reimbarked on board the boats,
and left the pendant flying. As foon as the boats were put
off, the old man went up to the pendant, and danced round
it a confiderable time i he then retired, but foon after returned
with fome green boughs, which he threw down, and
retired a fecond time: it was not long, however, before he
appeared again, with about a dozen o f the inhabitants, and
putting themfelves in a fupplicating pollure, they all approached
the pendant in a flow pace, but the wind happening
to move it, when they were got clofe to it, they fuddenly
retreated with the greateft precipitation. After Handing
fome time at a dillance, and gazing at it, they went away,
but in a Ihort time came back, with two large hogs alive,
which they laid down at the foot o f the ftaff, and at length
taking courage, they began to dance. When they had per-
G g 2 formed