1767. formed this ceremony, they brought the hogs down to the
. J“1’1’- , water fide, launched a canoe, and put them on board. The
Thurfday 25. Qjd man. who had a large white'beard, then embarked with
Fùday z6.
them alone, and brought them to the fhip; when he came
along-fide, he made a fet fpeech, and afterwards handed in
feveral green plantain leaves, one by one, uttering a fen-
tence, in a folemn flow tone, with each o f them as he delivered
i t ; after this he fent on board the two hogs, and
then turning round, pointed to the land. I ordered fome
prefents to be given him, but he would accept of nothing j;
and foon after put ©ff his canoe, and went on fhore.
At night, foon after it- was dark, we heard the noife of
many drums, with conchs, and other wind inftruments, and
faw a multitude o f lights all along the coaft. At fix in the
morning, feeing none o f the natives on fhore, and obferving
that the pendant was taken away, which probably they had
learnt to defpife, as the frogs in the fable did King Log, I
ordered the lieutenant to take a guard on fhore, and i f all
was well, to fend off, that we might begin watering: in a.
fhort time I had the fatisfadfion to find that he had fent off
for water calks, and by eight o’clock, we had four tons of
water on board. While our people were employed in filling
the calks, feveral of the natives appeared on the oppofite fide
o f the river, with the old man whom the officer had feen
the day before; and foon after he came over, and brought
with him a little fruit, and a few fowls, which were alfo fent
off to the fhip. At this time, having beeil very ill for near
a fortnight, I was fo weak that I could fcarcely crawl
about; however, I employed my glafles to fee what was
doing on fhore. At near ha lf an hour after eight o’ clock, I
perceived a multitude of the natives coming over a hill at
about the difiance of a mile, and at the fame time a great
number of canoes making round the weftern point, and
y keeping
keeping clofe along the Ihore. I then looked at the watering
place, and fawat the back o f it, where it was clear, a
very numerous party of the natives creeping along behind
the bufhesj I faw alfo many thoufands in the woods, pufh-
ing along towards the watering-place, and canoes coming:
very fall round the other point of the bay to the eaftward.
Being alarmed^ at thefe appearances, I difpatched a boat, to
acquaint the officer on Ihore with what I had feen, and order,
him immediately to come on board with his men, and.
leave the calks, behind him: he had, however, difcoverecL
his danger, and. embarked before the boat reached him.
Having perceived the Indians, that were creeping towards
him under fhelter of the wood, he immediately difpatched
the old man to them, making figns that they fliould.
keep at a diftance, and that he wanted nothing but water-
A s foon as they perceived that they were difcovered, they-
began to fhout, and advanced with greater fpeed. The officer
immediately repaired, to the boats with his people, and
the. Indians, in the mean time having croffed the river, took;
poffeffion. of the water calks, with great appearance of exultation
and joy. The canoes now pulled along the Ihore, towards
the place, with the utmoft expedition, all-the people:
on land keeping pace with them, except a multitude of
women and children, who feated themfelves upon a hill
which overlooked the bay and the beach. The canoes from,
each point of the bay, as they drew nearer to that part of it.
where the fhip was at anchor, put on Ihore, and took in-
more men, who had great bags, in their hands, which afterwards
appeared to be filled, with ftones.. All the canoes that,
had come-round the points, and many others that had put-
off from the Ihore within the bay, now made towards the
fhip, fo that I had no doubt but that they intended to try.
their.
I m
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22 Q: if: 1767. § June. -
Friday 26.- 1
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