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

SECTION V.An Intercourse established with the Natives; some Account of the Island, and a Variety of Incidents thathappened 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 foundit practicable to lay the ship much nearer the landing-place than she now was, which would greatlyfacilitate that work, as well as overawe the natives, and enable us better to cover and protect the workingparty on shore; with this view, on the 6th, we went to work to transport the ship to the place I designed tomoor her in. While we were about this, we observed the natives assembling from all parts, and formingthemselves into two parties, as they did the preceding evening, one on each side the landing-place, to theamount of some thousands, armed as before. A canoe, sometimes conducted by one, and at other times bytwo or three men, now and then came off, bringing a few cocoa-nuts or plantains. These they gave uswithout asking for any return; but I took care they should always have something. Their chief designseemed to invite us on shore. One of those who came off was the old man, who had already ingratiatedhimself into our favour. I made him understand, by signs, that they were to lay aside their weapons, tookthose which were in the canoe, and threw them overboard, and made him a present of a large piece ofcloth. There was no doubt but he understood me, and made my request known to his countrymen. For assoon as he landed, we observed him to go first to the one party, and then to the other; nor was he, everafter, seen by us with any thing like a weapon in his hand. After this, three fellows came in a canoe underthe stern, one of them brandishing a club, with which he struck the ship's side, and committed other acts ofdefiance, but at last offered to exchange it for a string of beads, and some other trifles. These were sentdown to him by a line; but the moment they were in his possession, he and his companions paddled off inall haste, without giving the club or any thing else in return. This was what I expected, and indeed what Iwas 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 thefellow the contents; and, when they were above musquet-shot off, I ordered some of the musquetoons, orwall-pieces, to be fired, which made them leap out of the canoe, keep under her offside, and swim with herashore. This transaction seemed to make little or no impression on the people there. On the contrary, theybegan to halloo, and to make sport of it.[1][1] "In order to make the sequel more intelligible, it will be necessary to give a slight sketch of theappearance of the country which encloses the harbour. The point which forms its eastern shore isvery low and flat, but presently rises into a level hill, about fifteen or twenty yards high, which iswholly laid out in plantations. This encompasses the eastern and southern shore of the bay, beingnear three miles long, and extending several miles inland to the sea on the other side. Where this flathill ends, a fine plain covered with plantations runs to the southward, bounded by several ranges ofpleasant hills, of which the nearest are of easy ascent. To the west this plain, as well as the wholebay itself, is enclosed by a steep hill, three or four hundred yards high, which is nearly perpendicularin most places. A narrow beach of large broken shingles and stones runs along the western shore, buta perpendicular rock separates it from the southern beach. This last is very broad, and consists of afirm black sand; it bounds the plain, and is the same where we cut wood and filled our casks withwater. A beach of coral rock and shell sand continues from thence along the foot of the flat hill quiteto the eastern point of the harbour. The flat hill does not lie close to this beach, but a space of levelland, thirty or forty yards wide, covered with groves of palms, extends to its foot. The whole southeast corner of the bay is filled with a flat reef of coral, which is overflowed at low water."--G.F.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,