i77> that we were obliged to fix our côppèr oven On fliore to bake
December again) which undoubtedly delayed us a confiderable
tinie. Whilft we lay here, the inhabitants came on board as
before, fupplying us with fifh, and other things of their own
manufacture, which We bought o f them for nails, &c. and
appeared very friendly ; though twice in the middle of the
night, they came to the tent, with an intention to Real, but
were difcovered before they could get any thing into their
poflelfion.
Friday 17. On the 17th of December, having refitted the fliip, com-
pleated our water and wood, and got every thing ready for
fea, we fent our large cutter, with Mr. Rowe, a midfliipman,
and the boat’s crew, to gather wild greens for the fliip s company
; with orders to return that evening, as I intended to
fail the next morning. But, on the boat’s not returning the
fame evening, nor the next morning, being under great un-
eafmefs about her, I hoifted out the launch, and fent her,
with the fécond lieutenant, Mr. Burney, manned with the
boat’s crew and ten marines, in fearch of her. My orders to
Saturday 18, ^ Burney Were, firft to look well into Eaft Bay, and then to
proceed to Grafs Cove, the place to which Mr. Rowe had been
fent ; and if he heard nothing o f the boat there, to go farther
up the found, and come back along the Weft fliore. As Mr.
Rowe had left the fliip an hour before the time propofed, and
in a great hurry, I was ftrongly perfuaded that his curiofity
had carried him into Eaft Bay, none in our fliip having ever
.been there; or elfe, that fome accident had happened to the
boat, either by going a-drift through the boat-keeper’s negligence,
or by being ftove among the rocks. This was al-
moft every body’s opinion ; and on this fuppofition, the carpenter’s
mate was fent in the launch, with fome fheets of
4 dntin.
I had not the leaft fufpicion that our people had received „ '773- 1 Decern fct
any injury from the natives; o.ur boats having frequently '--- .—
been higher up, and worfe provided. How much I was Sa;arda)' ‘
miftaken, too foon appeared; for Mr. Burney having returned
about eleven o’clock the fame night, made his report of a
horrible fcene indeed, which cannot be better defcribed than
in his own words, which now follow.
■ “ On the 18 th, we left the fliip; and having a light breeze-
in our favour, we foon got round Long Iftand, and within
Long Point I examined every cove, on the larboard hand,
as we went along, lqoking well all around with a fpy-glafs,
which I took for that purpofe. At half-paft one, we flopped
at a beach on the left hand fide going up Eaft Bay, to boil
fome victuals, as we brought nothing but raw meat with us,
Whilft w e were cooking, I faw an Indian on the oppofite
fliore, running along a heach to the head of the hay. Our
meat being dreft, we got into the boat and put o ff; and, in
a fhort time arriyed at the head of this reach, where we faw
an Indian fettlement.
“ As we drew near, fome of the Indians came down* on the
rocks, and waved for us to begone; but feeing we difre-
garded them, they altered their notes. Here we found fix
large canoes hauled up on the beach, moft of them double
ones, and a great many people ; though not fo many as one-
might expect from the number o f hoUfes and fize of the canoes.
Leaving the boat’s crew to guard the boat, I ftepped
a-fhore with the marines (the corporal and five men), and
fearched a good many of their houfes ; but found nothing
to give me any fufpicion. Three or four well-beaten paths,
led farther into the woods, where were many more houfes;
but the people continuing friendly, I thought it unneceflary
t o ,