1769. among them, thefe were the inftruments of green talc, which
■ _ _ ' , were fhaped fomewhat like a pointed battledore, with a fliort
Wednef, 11. |lancqe antj fljarp edges; they were called Patoo-Patoo, and
were well contrived for clofe-fighting, as they would certainly
fplit the thickeft fcull at a Angle blow.
When thefe people had recovered from the firlt impreffions
of fear, which notwithftanding their refolution in coming on
board, had manifeftly thrown them into fome confufion, we
enquired after our poor boys. The man who firft came on
board immediately anfwered, that they were unhurt and at
home.; adding, that he had been induced to venture on board
by the account which they had given him of the kindnefs
with which they had been treated, and the wonders that were
contained in the fhip.
While they were on board they fhewed every fign of friend-
fhip, and invited us very cordially to go back to our old bay,
or to a fmall cove which they pointed out, that was not quite
fo far off; but I chofe rather to profecute my difcoveries than
go back, having reafon to hope that I fhould find a better
harbour than any I had yet feen.
About an hour before fun-fet, the canoes put off from the
fhip with the few paddles they had referved, which were
fcarcely fufficient to fet them on fhore ; but by fome means
or other three of their people were left behind : as foon as
we difcovered it, we hailed them; but not one of them would
return to take them on board: this greatly furprifed us; but
we were furprifed ftill more to obferve that the deferted Indians
did not feem at all uneafy at their fituation, but entertained
us with dancing and finging after their manner, eat
their fuppers, and went quietly to bed.
A light
A light breeze fpringing up foon after it was dark, we
fleered along the fhore under an eafy fail till midnight, and
then brought to, foon after which it fell calm; we were now
fome leagues diftant from the place where the canoes had
left us, and at day-break, when the Indians perceived it,
they were feized with conilernation and terror, and lamented
their fituation in loud complaints, with geftures of defpair
and many tears. Tupia, with great difficulty, pacified them ;
and about feven o’clock in the morning, a light breeze Thauaay,*.
fpringing up, we continued to ftand fouth weft along the
fhore. Fortunately for our poor Indians, two canoes came
off about this time, and made towards the fhip: they flopped,
however, at a little diftance, and feemed unwilling to truft
themfelves nearer. Our Indians were greatly agitated in
this ftate of uncertainty, and urged their fellows to come
alongfide of the fhip, both by their voice and geftures, with
the utmoft eagernefs and impatience. Tupia interpreted
what they faid, and we were much furprifed to find, that,
among other arguments, they affured the people in the canoes,
we did not eat men. We now began ferioully to believe
that this horrid cuftom prevailed among them; for
what the boys had faid, we confidered as a mere hyperbolical
expreffion of their fear. One of the canoes, at length,
ventured to come under the fhip s fide; and an old man
came on board, who feemed to be a Chief from the finery of
his garment, and the fuperiority of his weapon, which was
a Patoo-Patoo, made of bone, that, as he faid, had belonged
to a whale. He ftaid on board but a Ihort time, and when
he went away, he took with him our guefts, very much to
the fatisfatftion both of them and us.
At the time when we failed, we were abreaft of a point,
from which the land trends S. S. W. and which, on account
V ol. II. Q j l