1769.
November.
Wêdnefi 29.
furrounded by two. or three hundred people, fome rufhing
from behind the heads of the cove, and others appearing on
the tops of the hills:', they were all armed, but they came on
in fo confufed and {haggling a manner that we fcarcely fuf-
pecicd tliey meant ushany harm, and we were determined
that hoftilities fhoukl not begin on our part. We marched
towards them, and then drew a line upon the fand between
them and us, which we gave them to underftand they were
not to pafs: at firft they continued quiet, but their weapons
were held ready to ftrike, and they feemed to be rather irre-
lolute than peaceable. While we remained in this ftate of
fufpenfe,'another parity: of Indians came up, and now grow,
ing more bold as their number increafed, they began the
dance and fong, which are their preludes to a battle: Hill,
however, they delayed the attack, but a party ran to each of
our boats, and attempted to draw them, on fhore ; this feemed
to be the fignal, for the people about us at the fame time
began to prefs in upon our line: our fituation was now become
too critical for us to remain longer inactive, I therefore
difcharged myrnuflcet, which was loaded with fmall (hot,
at one of the forwarded, and Mr. Banks and two of the men
fired immediately afterwards: this made them fall back in
fome confufion, but one of the Chiefs, who was at the dif-
tance of about twenty yards,' rallied them, and running
forward waving his patoo-patoo, and calling loudly to his
companions, led them to the charge. Dr. Solander, whofe
piece was not yet difcharged, fired at this champion, who
flopped fhort upon feeling the fhot, and then ran away with
the reft : they did not however difperfe, but got together
upon a rifing ground, and feemed only to want: fome leader
of refolution to renew their attack. As they were now beyond
the reach o f fmall fhot, we fired with ball, but as none
of them took place they ftill continued in a body, and in
this
this fituation. we remained about a quarter of an hour : in November.
the mean time the fhip, from whence a much, greater rram- t— —
her .of Indians were feen than could be difcovered in. our fitu- e ne ' 29,
ation, brought her broad-fide to bear, and intirely difperfed
them, by firing a few fhot over their heads. In this fkirmilh
only! two lof the Indians were hurt with the fmall .fhot, and
not a Angle life was loft, which would not have been the
cafe if I had not reftrained the men, who,, either from fear
o-r the love of mifchief, fhewed as much impatience to
deftroy them as a fportfman : to kill his game. When we
were, in quiet pofTeffion of our cove, We laid down bur arms
and; began forgather celer-y, • which grew here-.--in great
plenty: after.a little time we reeolletSïed to’have fééh fome
of the people hide themfelves in a cave of one o f the rocks,
w-e therefore : went towards the place, when an old Indian, •
whb,proved to be.the Chief that I had prefentéd with, a piece
o f broad cloth in the morning, came out-with his wife and
his brother, and in a fopplica'ting pofture put themfelves
under our protection, We fpoke kindly to them, and the
old man then told us that hé had another brother, who was
one of thofe that bad been wounded by the fmall fhot,' and
enquired with much fblicitude and concern if he tvoUld die.
We afTured him that he would not, and at the fame time put
into his hand both a mufket ball and fome fmall fhot, telling
him, that thofe only who were wounded with the ball would
die,, and that the others would recover.,- at the famé time
afluring him, that if we were attacked a-gain, we fcould
certainly defend ourfelves with - the ball, which would
wound them mortally. Having .now taken courage, they
came and fat down by us, and as tokens, of.-our .perfeél
amity, we made them prefents of fuch ,trifles as. we happened
to have about us.
3 A 3 Soon
mmm su—