What Made This Incident The
More Unfortunate Was, It Not Appearing To Be The Man Who Bent The Bow, That
Was Shot, But One Who Stood By Him.
This affair threw the natives into the
utmost consternation; and a few that were prevailed on to stay, ran to the
plantations and brought cocoa-nuts, &c. which they laid down at our feet.
So soon, were those daring people humbled!
When I went on board to dinner,
they all retired, and only a few appeared in the afternoon, amongst whom
were Paowang and Wha-a-gou. I had not seen this young man since the day he
had dined on board. Both he and Paowang promised to bring me fruit, &c. the
next morning, but our early departure put it out of their power.[8]
[1] "In order to make the sequel more intelligible, it will be
necessary to give a slight sketch of the appearance of the country
which encloses the harbour. The point which forms its eastern shore is
very low and flat, but presently rises into a level hill, about
fifteen or twenty yards high, which is wholly laid out in plantations.
This encompasses the eastern and southern shore of the bay, being near
three miles long, and extending several miles inland to the sea on the
other side. Where this flat hill ends, a fine plain covered with
plantations runs to the southward, bounded by several ranges of
pleasant hills, of which the nearest are of easy ascent. To the west
this plain, as well as the whole bay itself, is enclosed by a steep
hill, three or four hundred yards high, which is nearly perpendicular
in most places. A narrow beach of large broken shingles and stones
runs along the western shore, but a perpendicular rock separates it
from the southern beach. This last is very broad, and consists of a
firm black sand; it bounds the plain, and is the same where we cut
wood and filled our casks with water. A beach of coral rock and shell
sand continues from thence along the foot of the flat hill quite to
the eastern point of the harbour. The flat hill does not lie close to
this beach, but a space of level land, thirty or forty yards wide,
covered with groves of palms, extends to its foot. The whole south
east corner of the bay is filled with a flat reef of coral, which is
overflowed at low water." - G.F.
[2] "The women and children, though they brought us several dainties,
were notwithstanding so extremely timorous, that if we only fixed our
eyes upon them, they instantly ran away, to the great entertainment of
the men. However, their coming so near us, was sufficient proof that
we had made great progress towards gaining their confidence. We
observed some of them who had a smile on their countenances, but in
general they looked gloomy and melancholy. Whenever we presented a
bead, a nail, or ribbon to any of the people, they refused to touch
it, but desired us to lay it down, and then took it up in a leaf.
Whether this was owing to some superstitious notions, or to a fancied
idea of cleanliness, or of civility, must remain a matter of doubt." -
G.F.
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