Besides Water, We Got From Them A Few Cocoa-Nuts, Which Seemed
To Be In Plenty On The Trees; But They Could Not Be Prevailed Upon To Part
With Any Of Their Weapons.
These they held in constant readiness, and in
the proper attitudes of offence and defence; so that little was wanting to
make them attack us; at least we thought so, by their pressing so much upon
us, and in spite of our endeavours to keep them off.
Our early re-embarking
probably disconcerted their scheme; and after that, they all retired. The
friendly old man before mentioned, was in one of these parties; and we
judged, from his conduct, that his temper was pacific.
[1] Dalrymple's Collection of Voyages, vol. I. p. 140, 141.
[2] "Our ship now probably resembled an hospital; the poisoned
patients were still in a deplorable situation; they continued to have
gripes and acute pains in all their bones: In the day time they were
in a manner giddy, and felt a great heaviness in their heads; at
night, as soon as they were warm in bed, their pains redoubled, and
robbed them actually of sleep. The secretion of saliva was
excessive; the skin peeled off from the whole body, and pimples
appeared on their hands. Those who were less affected with pains, were
much weaker in proportion, and crawled about the decks, emaciated to
mere shadows We had not one lieutenant able to do duty; and as one of
the mates and several of the midshipmen were likewise ill, the watches
were commanded by the gunner and the other mates. The dogs which had
unfortunately fed upon the same fish, were in a still worse condition,
as we could not give them any relief. They groaned and panted most
piteously, drank great quantities of water, and appeared to be
tortured with pain. Those which had eaten of the entrails were vastly
more affected than the rest. - G.F."
According to this gentleman, the crew never felt more severely the
tediousness of confinement to the ship, or were more tired of salt
provisions. Two sharks caught on the 31st afforded them a very
acceptable entertainment, and were greedily devoured. One of these, he
tells us, had in his maw four young turtles, of eighteen inches in
diameter, two large cuttle-fishes, and the feathers and skeleton of a
booby; yet notwithstanding so plentiful a repast, he seemed to be well
disposed for a piece of salt pork with which the hook was baited. - E.
SECTION V.
An Intercourse established with the Natives; some Account of the Island,
and a Variety of Incidents that happened during our Stay at it.
As we wanted to take in a large quantity both of wood and water, and as,
when I was on shore, I had found it practicable to lay the ship much nearer
the landing-place than she now was, which would greatly facilitate that
work, as well as overawe the natives, and enable us better to cover and
protect the working party on shore; with this view, on the 6th, we went to
work to transport the ship to the place I designed to moor her in. While we
were about this, we observed the natives assembling from all parts, and
forming themselves into two parties, as they did the preceding evening, one
on each side the landing-place, to the amount of some thousands, armed as
before. A canoe, sometimes conducted by one, and at other times by two or
three men, now and then came off, bringing a few cocoa-nuts or plantains.
These they gave us without asking for any return; but I took care they
should always have something. Their chief design seemed to invite us on
shore. One of those who came off was the old man, who had already
ingratiated himself into our favour. I made him understand, by signs, that
they were to lay aside their weapons, took those which were in the canoe,
and threw them overboard, and made him a present of a large piece of cloth.
There was no doubt but he understood me, and made my request known to his
countrymen. For as soon as he landed, we observed him to go first to the
one party, and then to the other; nor was he, ever after, seen by us with
any thing like a weapon in his hand. After this, three fellows came in a
canoe under the stern, one of them brandishing a club, with which he struck
the ship's side, and committed other acts of defiance, but at last offered
to exchange it for a string of beads, and some other trifles. These were
sent down to him by a line; but the moment they were in his possession, he
and his companions paddled off in all haste, without giving the club or any
thing else in return. This was what I expected, and indeed what I was not
sorry for, as I wanted an opportunity to shew the multitude on shore, the
effect of our fire arms, without materially hurting any of them. Having a
fowling-piece loaded with small shot (No. 3) I gave the fellow the
contents; and, when they were above musquet-shot off, I ordered some of the
musquetoons, or wall-pieces, to be fired, which made them leap out of the
canoe, keep under her offside, and swim with her ashore. This transaction
seemed to make little or no impression on the people there. On the
contrary, they began to halloo, and to make sport of it.[1]
After mooring the ship, by four anchors, with her broadside to the landing-
place, hardly musquet-shot off, and placing our artillery in such a manner
as to command the whole harbour, I embarked with the marines, and a party
of seamen, in three boats, and rowed in for the shore. It hath been already
mentioned, that the two divisions of the natives were drawn up on each side
the landing-place.
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