opening of a cask of sour krout, though considerably more overpowering.
YVe soon perceived they had a previous knowledge of iron, but they had
no idea of the use of a musket. YYlien one w'as presented to induce them
to desist from their riotous conduct, instead of evading the direction of
the fatal charge, they approached i t ; and imagining the gun was offered
to them, they innocently held out their hands to accept it. Before we
came close to them, they tempted us with cocoa-nuts and roots, performed
ludicrous dances, and invited our approach; but as soon as we
were within reach, the scene was changed to noise and confusion. They
seized the boat by the gunwale, endeavoured to steal every thing that
was loose, and demanded whatever we held in our hand, without seeming
in the least disposed to give any thing of their own in return. At
length some of them grasped the boat’s yoke, which was made of copper,
and others the rudder, which produced a scuffle, and obliged me to
fire my gun over their heads. Upon the discharge, all but four instantly
plunged into the sea; but these, though for a moment motionless
with astonishment, held firmly by the rudder, until they were rejoined by
their companions, and then forcibly made it their prize. YVe could
only have prevented this by the use of fire-arms, but 1 did not choose
to resort to such a measure for so trifling an end, especially as the barge
was approaching, and afforded the most likely means of recovering our
loss without the sacrifice oflife on their part, or the risk ofbeing upset
on our own. As I intended to remain some days at these islands, 1
wished by all means to avoid a conflict; at the same time it was essential
to our future tranquillity to show a resolution to resist such unwarrantable
conduct, and to convince them of our determination to enforce
a respect of property. As soon, therefore, as we were joined by
the barge, we grappled the raft that contained our rudder; on which the
greater part of the natives again threw themselves into the sea; but those
who remained appeared determined to resist our attack, and endeavoured
to push the boat off. Finding, however, they could not readily do this,
a man whose long beard was white with age, offered us the disputed
article, and we were on the point of receiving it, which would have put
an end to all strife, when one of the natives disengaged the raft, and
she went astern. Again free, the rudder was replaced on the raft, and
the swimmers regained their station. They 5vere followed by the gig CHAP,
and jolly boat, and a short skirmish ensued, in which Mr. Elson fell.
The boat’s crew imagining him hurt, and seeing the man he had been engaged
Dec.
182.5.
with aiming another blow at him, fired and wounded his assailant
in the shoulder. The man fell upon the raft, and his companions,
alarmed, threw the rudder into the sea and jumped overboard. As this
man took a very leading part, he was probably a chief. N o other wound
was inflicted, nor did this happen before it was merited; for our forbearance
had extended even beyond the bounds of prudence; and had less
been evinced, we should sooner have gained our point, and probably
have stood higher in the estimation of our antagonists. After this
rencontre, some of the rafts again paddled towards us, and waved pieces
of white cloth ; but the evening being far spent, and anxious to find anchorage
for the ship, I proceeded to examine the islands. YY^e passed
the bar, formed by the chain before mentioned dipping under water, in
five, seven, and eight fathoms over a rugged coral bottom, and entered
the lagoon, gradually deepening the water to twenty-five fathoms.
There was a considerable swell upon the shallow part of the reef, but
within it the water was quite smooth. The first island we approached
had a bay formed at its eastern angle, where the ship might ride in
safety with almost all winds. Night coming on, we anchored the
boat npon the bar, and caught a large quantity of fish, consisting of
several sorts of perca (vittata, maadata), a labrus, and many small
sharks. After daylight we returned to the ship, and in the evening
anchored in the spot we had selected the day before. As we entered
the bay, the natives were observed collected upon a low point, at
one extremity of it, hallooing, and waving pieces of white cloth. Almost
all of them had long poles, either pointed or tipped with bone. Some
had mats thrown over their shoulders, and their heads and loins
covered with banana leaves cut into strips. They were much startled
at the noise occasioned by letting go the anchor, and at the chain-
cable running out, and gazed intently at the different evolutions necessary
to he gone through in bringing the ship to an anchor, in furling
sails, &c.
No person came on board that night; but daylight had scarcely
I ‘ i'
: lli