,1783. The I King, Who hbwTbr-thfe fkft time had feen the pro-
■ TEMBES* -
grefs made in the new- veflel, appeared perfeöly andazed at
• perceiving_ how much had been done, nor lefs To at the
magnitude o f the object. He minutely examined ■ every
thing .with the moft eager attention, and impatiently called
for, his Clackalbys, or artificers, to notice what had fo much'
excited :hi§ pWffaftoniflament.- The
furprize equal to that of their.Prince, after delihéfateïy pö*’
ringyover; its parts, pointed fihgiilaf
manner in which every thing-was wedged and bolted
gether.rrThey were quite .loft imWonderat the ufe arid
power o f the iron-work; and the whole together fèemed t-ó
have engaged their minds asfomewhat -beyond • their com-'
prehenfion.— The King crofted freqnently between the ribs
of the veffel, and faid he was at a loft'to conceive how they
could ever be made fo as to keep out the water* haVing;no
idea that they were to he planked. |
i . -.As moft? of the frame-work of the veflel bn the -flocks
had been made out of trees which our people had cut do wn,
in the ifland, the King pointed out to them a Ipecies of
wood which they had ufed in fame parts of the veflêl, and
which hé exprefled a concern at feeing; faying, he deemed
ft an unlucky wood, and that it might prove the caufe
of their meeting with feme accident-; eameftly prefling
jthepa to take it out, and not fuffer any of it to remain.
They
They 'acknowledged alls g r e a i < !4nd'go^tefs < ‘fof- theni-;
af the fahfeftime informing 'him, thfey we'fe'accuftOmed'to j
employ’differ eiibki-iids of timber in'dkiftrb^Tng their, fhips,
ah'd/fM'hifekpe.ribrf^axadt'dlfl;Wefe<i tM$ nbtfffngWk^Jtb be
apprfeiiehded 'bn-’^Bali/fcdre.;j -Tys-4ah|@n’
from which- the naftyfes^ntertained of
thi&.trd^ -bf! WhiSh/tbere Were5 feveMl* grchvidg on ihe ifldnd
s The’Kihg .tfe da$Sfc£wfeB. as ‘the^General, mucKmotic^et
thev-barTicidfe/as alfo .tfee^fix-pouhde^;' arid<bftei? • M^^hald
falkedff^iKtime witffthVAfeA?/, he enquired the hfejfof the
giifeMgmil- The Captain Shewed him the;bais,Whd 5gmf>er
Jkdtjr and’' alfo rexplaihteffHoihim-tliW ffbit^and
cacyfr irtformihgirhitci, that if-a{ number v of•■ Gtooe» from-
AKTiwbAL'LjPor'any other ifland “oft his | enemies, fhould
approach the cove,, this“ machine would'ibloW them chit’ Of
the'water, and ftiiver them to atoms. The King Was alfo
fhe’wn -the fwivel guns, 'which were mounted on trees
fawncdown; asfhefore mentioned; and it. Was .explained to’
him,:that Jthe^could --be ^pointed in;any.direction',which!
ftiould.be moft defir able,mr* ’ convenient, fbthafflaould any
of {hft eherhiess. cdme.by furprize over dand^thefc moveable
guns'Would give our people; as great an advantage; and
power over them by land* as the fix-pounder would by fea. ;
The King, his brothers, arid the' Chiefs Who were with
6 him,
KPTEMBER*