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November, 0n tlle 9th> at day-break, a great number of canoes came
tE ST Y 1 0n board' loaded'with mackrel of two forts, one exactly the
fame with thofe caught in England, and the other fome what
different: we imagined the people had taken a large fhoal,
and brought us an overplus which they could not confurne;
for they fold them at a very low rate. They were, however!
very welcome to us; at eight o’clock, the fhiphad more filh
on board than all her people could eat in.three days; and
before night, the quantity was fo much increafed, that every
man who could get fait, cured as many as would laft him a
month.
After an early breakfafl, I went afhore, with Mr. Green and
proper inftruments, to obferve the tranfit of Mercury, Mr.
Banks and Dr. Solander being of the party ; the weather had
for fome time been very thick, with much rain, but this
day was fo favourable that not a cloud intervened during
the whole tranfit. The obfervation of the ingrefs was made
by Mr. Green alone, while I was employed in taking the
fun s altitude to afcertain the time. It came on at 7h so' 58''
apparent time : according to Mr. Green’ s obfervation, the internal
contact was at ts" 8' 58", the external at 1-2.1' 9'55" P. M.
And according to mine, the internal contact was at 12* 8' si'-,
and the external i2h 9' 48"; the latitude of the place of obfervation
was 30° 48' si"- The latitude obferved at noon was
36° 48' 28"'. The mean of this and yeflerday’s obfervation
gives 36° 48' s i" S. the latitude o f the place of obfervation ;
the variation of the compafs was i i ° g' E.
About noon, we were alarmed by the firing of a great gun
from the flnp ; Mr. Gore, my Second Lieutenant, was at this
time commanding officer on board, and the account that he
gave was this. While fome fmall canoes were trading with
the people, two very large ones came up, full of men, one
of
of them having on board forty-feven, all armed with pikes, ’ ?6g.
darts, and ftones, and apparently with a hoftile intention: ;__ ,__j
they appeared to be ftrangers, and to be rather confcious of Thut 9'
fuperiority over us by their numbers, than afraid of any
weapons whichYould give us the fuperiority over them: no
attack however was made; probably becaufe they learnt
from the people in the other canoes, with whom they immediately
entered into conference,, what kind o f an enemy they
had to deal with: after a little time, they began to trade,
fome of them offering their arms, and one of them a fquare'
piece of cloth, which makes a part of their drefs, called a
Eaahaw,, feveral of the weapons were purchafed, and Mr.
Gore having agreed for a Haahow, fent down the price,
which was a piece of Britifh cloth, and expected his pur-
chafe: but the Indian, as foon as he had got Mr. Gore’s cloth
in his poffeffion, refufed to part with his own, and put off
the canoe: upon being threatened for this fraud; he and his
companions began to ling their war fong in defiance, and
fhook their paddles; Hill however they began no attack, only
defying Mr. Gore to take any remedy in his power, which
fo provoked him that he levelled a mufquet loaded with ball
at the offender, while he was holding the cloth in his hand,
and fhot him dead. It would have been happy, if the elicit
of a few fmall fhot had been tried upon this occafion, which;
upon fome others had been fuccefsful.
When the Indian dropped, all the canoes put off to fome
diftance; but as they did not go away, it was thought they
might Hill- meditate an attack. To fecure therefore a fafe
paffage for the boat, which it was necefiary to fend on fliore,
a round fhot was fired over their heads, which effectually
anfwered the purpofe, and put them all to flight. When an;
account of what had happened was brought afhore, our Indians