o f men finging a fong, and keeping time by the regularity of their paddling.
Their courfe, directed towards the Difcovery, feemed not to
correfpond with the willies o f the former party, who immediately equipped
themfelves in their war garments, and their fpears which had lain in
the bottom of their canoes, were now got to hand, and couched in an
inclined pofition, with their points towards the new comers. Thus prepared
they advanced flowly to meet them, making moft violent and paf-
fionate fpeeches, which were anfwered in a fimilar tone $ f voice by fome
perfons who Hood up in the large canoe. They continued to paddle
with much regularhy towards each other; yet thofe who had now entered
the harbour, did not appear to be fo hoftilely inclined as thofe who
had already occupied the port; as the lances o f the former, though in
rcadinefs for aftion, were not difpofed in a way fo menacing. On a
nearer approach they reded on their paddles, and entered into a parley ;
and we could then obferve, that all thofe who flood up in the large canoe
were armed with piftols or blunderbufles, very bright, and in good order.
Their converfation feeming to have ended in a pacific way, the
oppofing party returned with the new comers, who, on palling by the
Chatham, laid down their arms; but juft as they came alongfide the
Difcovery, one of the chiefs who had been on board, drew, with much
hafte, from within the breaft of his war garment a large iron dagger,
and appeared to be extremely irritated by fomething that had been faid
by thofe in the large canoe, who again with great coolnefs took up their
piftols and blunderbufles; but on an explanation appearing to be
made, their arms were again returned to their proper places; their piftols
and ammunition were carefully wrapped up, and a perfeft reconciliation
feemed to have taken place on both fides.
The chief of the large canoe requefted permiflion to be admitted into
the Ihip, which being aflented to, he came on board accompanied by a
man, who, though not affirming the character of a chief, appeared to be
a perfon of no fmall confequence, as the chief feemed to appeal to him
on all occafions, and his countenance befpoke much penetration.
After a few words and figns had pafled in affurance of peace, and
o f a good underftanding between us; this minifter, for in that capacity
this
this man feemed to a£l, gave us to underftand, that the chief who now J JVj
vifited us, was the great Ononnijioy, and his intelligence was almoft im- l--- .—_<
mediately confirmed by Kanaut, (the meflenger before mentioned) who
arrived in a fmaller canoe, and was received by the tribe in other canoes
with fimilar ceremonies, but in a manner not quite fo fierce and hoftile.
Ononnijioy did not obferve the diftant formalities Ihewn by the chiefs
o f the other party, but accepted with great cheerfulnefs fuch prefents
as I confidered it proper to make on this oceafion. Thefe feemed
to afford him much fatisfa&ion, and to gain the approbation and ap-
plaufe o f all his party. The chiefs of the other tribe came on board at
the fame time; to thefe alfo fome articles were given, which they now
received with much pleafure, and appeared to be in very good humour,
not only with us, but with Ononnijioy and all his attendants.
Towards the clofe of the day this great chief, with two or three of
his fuite, lamented that they had no habitation on fliore, and requefted
for that reafon permiflion to fleep on board. This was granted, and
when it was dark fome fire-works were exhibited for their amufement;
but, excepting the water rockets, they were viewed with little attention.
From our previous acquaintance with Kanaut, I was not at a lofs to
know in what manner to provide fome refrelhment for Ononnijioy ; bread
and molaffes, with rum and wine, were fet before him, to which was
added fome of their own dried filh; on which he and his whole party
feemed to regale very heartily, and then retired to reft with as
much compofure, I believe, as if they had been in their own habita-
tlOnS. ‘ ' September.
Early the next morning, Ononnijioy with his friends joined the par-
ty on Ihore, where they were very bufily employed in adorning their
perfons in the manner already defcribedr which being accompliftied
by breakfaft time, he, attended by all the other chiefs, came off in
his large canoe, and, according to their cuftom, fang while they
paddled round the veffels. This ceremony being ended, they came
alongfide the Difcovery, and exhibited a kind of entertainment that I
had not before witneffed. It confifted of finging, and of a difplay of
Vox.. II. 3 E the