A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

occasioned by a volcano, which we observed to throw up vast quantities of fire and smoke, with arumbling noise heard at a great distance. We now made sail for the island; and, presently after, discovereda small inlet which had the appearance of being a good harbour. In order to be better informed, I sent awaytwo armed boats, under the command of Lieutenant Cooper, to sound it; and, in the meanwhile, we stoodon and off with the ship, to be ready to follow, or give them any assistance they might want. On the eastpoint of the entrance, we observed a number of people, and several houses and canoes; and when our boatsentered the harbour, they launched some, and followed them, but came not near. It was not long before MrCooper made the signal for anchorage; and we stood in with the ship. The wind being at west, and ourcourse S.S.W., we borrowed close to the west point, and passed over some sunken rocks, which might havebeen avoided, by keeping a little more to the east, or about one-third channel over. The wind left us as soonas we were within the entrance, and obliged us to drop an anchor in four fathoms water. After this, theboats were sent again to sound; and, in the meantime, the launch was hoisted out, in order to carry outanchors to warp in by, as soon as we should be acquainted with the channel.While we were thus employed, many of the natives got together in parties, on several parts of the shore, allarmed with bows, spears, &c. Some swam off to us, others came in canoes. At first they were shy, and keptat the distance of a stone's throw; they grew insensibly bolder; and, at last, came under our stern, and madesome exchanges. The people in one of the first canoes, after coming as near as they durst, threw towards ussome cocoa-nuts. I went into a boat and picked them up, giving them in return some cloth and otherarticles. This induced others to come under the stern, and alongside, where their behaviour was insolentand daring. They wanted to carry off every thing within their reach; they got hold of the fly of the ensign,and would have torn it from the staff; others attempted to knock the rings off the rudder; but the greatesttrouble they gave us was to look after the buoys of our anchors, which were no sooner thrown out of ourboats, or let go from the ship, than they got hold of them. A few muskets fired in the air had no effect; but afour-pounder frightened them so much, that they quitted their canoes that instant, and took to the water.But as soon as they found themselves unhurt, they got again into their canoes, gave us some halloos,flourished their weapons, and returned once more to the buoys. This put us to the expence of a fewmusquetoon shot, which had the desired effect. Although none were hurt, they were afterwards afraid tocome near the buoys; very soon all retired on shore, and we were permitted to sit down to dinnerundisturbed.During these transactions, a friendly old man in a small canoe made several trips between us and the shore,bringing off each time a few cocoa-nuts, or a yam, and taking in exchange whatever we gave him. Anotherwas on the gangway when the great gun was fired, but I could not prevail on him to stay there long.Towards the evening, after the ship was moored, I landed at the head of the harbour, in the S.E. corner,with a strong party of men, without any opposition being made by a great number of the natives who wereassembled in two parties, the one on our right and the other on the left, armed with clubs, darts, spears,slings, and stones, bows, and arrows, &c. After distributing to the old people (for we could distinguish nochief), and some others, presents of cloth, medals, &c. I ordered two casks to be filled with water out of apond about twenty paces behind the landing- place; giving the natives to understand, that this was one ofthe articles we wanted. Besides water, we got from them a few cocoa-nuts, which seemed to be in plentyon the trees; but they could not be prevailed upon to part with any of their weapons. These they held inconstant readiness, and in the proper attitudes of offence and defence; so that little was wanting to makethem attack us; at least we thought so, by their pressing so much upon us, and in spite of our endeavours tokeep 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, thathis temper was pacific.