36
CHAP. prehension o f hostilities was entertained. It happened, however, that
the presents were expended, and this officer w^as returning to the boat
Nov.
182.5.
for a fresh supply, when the natives, probably mistaking his intentions,
became exceedingly clamorous, and the confusion w^as further increased
by a marine endeavouring to regain his cap, wJhch had been snatched
from his head. The natives took advantage of the confusion, and
redoubled their endeavours to pilfer, wffiich our party were at last
obliged to repel by threats, and sometimes by force. At length they
became so audacious that there was no longer any doubt of their
intentions, or that a system of open plunder had commenced; which,
with the appearance of clubs and sticks, and the departure of the
women, induced Mr. Peard, very judiciously, to order his party into
the boats. This seemed to be the signal for an assault: the chief who
had received the present threw a large stone, wJiich struck J\Ir, Peard
forcibly upon the back, and w’as immediately follow^ed by a shower of
missiles which darkened the air. The natives in the water and about
the boats instantly withdrew* to their comrades, wJio had run behind a
bank out of the reach of the muskets, which former experience alone
could have taught them to fear, for none had yet been fired by us.
The stones, each of which weighed about a pound, fell incredibly
thick, and with such precision that several of the seamen were knocked
down under the thw-arts of the boat, and every person w-as more or less
wounded, except the female to whom Lieutenant Wainwright had given
protection, w*ho, as if aware of the skilfulness of her countrymen, sat
unconcerned upon the gunwale, until one of the officers, with more
consideration for her safety than she herself possessed, pushed her overboard,
and she swam ashore. A blank cartridge was at first fired over
the heads of the crowed; but forbearance, which with savages is generally
mistaken for cowardice or inability, only augmented their fury. The
showers of stones were if possible increased, until the personal safety of
all rendered it necessary to resort to severe measures. The chief, still
urging the islanders on, very deservedly, and perhaps fortunately, fell
a victim to the first shot that was fired in defence. Terrified by tliis
example, the natives kept closer under their bulw'ark; and though they
continued to throw* stones, and occasioned considerable difficulty in
extricating the boats, their attacks were not so effectual as before, nor
sufficient to prevent the embarkation of the crew, all of whom were got
on board.
Several dangerous contusions were received in the affair, but
fortunately no lives w*ere lost on our part; and it was the opinion of
the officer commanding the party, that the treacherous chief w*as the
only victim on that of the islanders, though some of the officers thought
they observed another man fall. Considering the manner in which the
party w*ere surrounded, and the imminent risk to which they w*ere
exposed, it is extraordinary that so few* of the natives suffered; and the
greatest credit is due to the officers and crews of both boats for their
forbearance on the occasion.
After this unfortunate and unexpected termination to our interview,
I determined upon quitting the island, as nothing of importance
was to be gained by remaining, wJiich could be put in competition with
the probable loss of lives that might attend an attempt at reconciliation.
The disappointment it occasioned was great to us, who had promised
ourselves much novelty and enjoyment; but the loss to the public
is trifling, as the island has been very well described by Roggewein,
Cook, Perouse, Kotzebue, and others, and the people appeared, in all
material points, the same now* as these authors have painted them.
With regard to supplies, nothing was to he gained by staying; for after
Cook had traversed the island, he came to the conclusion that few
places afford less convenience for shipping. “ As every thing must
be raised by dint of labour, it cannot be supposed the inhabitants
plant much more than is sufficient for themselves; and as they are
few in number, they cannot have much to spare to supply the wants of
strangers.”
The population of Easter Island has been variously stated:
Roggewein declares several thousands surrounded the boats: Cook
reckoned it at six or seven hundred; Mr. Forster, who was with him,
at nine hundred; M. la Perouse, at two thousand: my officers, estimated
it at about fifteen hundred. I f a mean of these be taken, it w*ill
leave 1260, which is, perhaps, near the truth; for it may be presumed,
that in an island of such limited extent, and which does not increase
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