386
January. ’wel‘e ordered ahead to tow. About one o’clock, we hauled
clofe round the fouth weft end of the ifland; and the inhabitants
of the village which was built upon it, were immediately
up in arms. About two, we anchored in a very fafe
and convenient cove, on the north weft fide of the bay, and
facing the fouth weft end of the ifland, in eleven fathom
water, with foft ground, and moored with the ftream anchor.
We were about four long cannon Ihot diftant from the
village or Heppah, from which four canoes were immediately
difpatched, as we imagined to reconnoitre, and if
they IhouM find themfelves able, to take us. The men
were all well armed, and drefled nearly as they are re-
prefented in the figure publifhed by Tafman ; two corners
of the cloth which they wrapped round the body were palled
over the Ihoulders from behind, and being brought down to
the upper edge of it before, were made fall to it juft under
the breaft; but few, or none, had feathers in their hair.
They rowed round the Ihip feveral times, with their ufual
tokens of menace and defiance, and at laft began the aflault
by throwing fome ftones: Tupia expoftulated with them,
but apparently to very little purpofe; and we began to fear
that they would oblige us to fire at them, when a very old
man in one of the boats expreffed a defire of coming on
board. We gladly encouraged him in his defign, a rope was
thrown into his canoe, and fhe was immediately alongfide
o f the Ihip: the old man rofe up, and prepared to come up
the Ihip’s fide, upon which all the reft expoftulated with
great vehemence againft the attempt, and at laft laid hold of
him, and held him back: he adhered however to his purpofe
with a calm but fteady perfeverance, and having at length
difengaged himfelf, he. came on board. We received him
with all poflible expreffions of friendlhip and kindnefs, and
2 after
after fome time difmiflèd him, with many prefents to his *770.
January.
companions. As foon as he was returned on board his ca- <— -— 1
noe, the people in all the reft began to.dance, but whether °° ay ’s"
as a token of enmity or friendlhip we could not certainly
determine, for we had feen them dance in a difpofition both
for peace and war. In a Uiort time, however, they retired
to their fort, and foon after I went on fhore, with moft of
the gentlemen, at the bottom of the cove, a-breaft of the
Ihip.
We found a fine ftream of excellent water, and wood in
the greateft plenty, for the land here was one foreft, of vaft
extent. As we brought the feine with us, we hauled it once
or twice, and with fuch fuccefs that we caught near thre<f
hundred weight of filh of different forts, which was equally
diftributed among the lhip’3 company.
At day-break, while we were bufy in careening the flop, TWdiy is.
three canoes came off7 to us, having on board above a hundred
men, befides feveral of their women, which we were
pleafed to fee, as in general it is a fign of peace; but they
foon afterwards became very troublefome, and gave us rea-
fon to apprehend fome mifchief from them fo the people
that were in our boats alongfide the Ihip. While we were
in this fituation, the long-boat was fent alhore with fome
water calks, and fome of the canoes attempting to follow
her, we found it neceflary to intimidate them, by firing fome
fmall Ihot: we were at fuch a diftance that it was impoflible
to hurt them, yet our reproof had its effect, and the/defifted
from the purfuit. They had fome filh in their canoes which
they now offered to fell, and which though it flunk, we
confented to buy: for this purpofe a man in a fmall boat was
fent among them, and they traded for fome time very fairly.
At length however, one of them watching his opportunity,
• V ol. II. 3 D fnatohed