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

troublesome to the eyes.Early in the morning of the 7th, the natives began again to assemble near the watering-place, armed asusual, but not in such numbers as at first. After breakfast, we landed, in order to cut wood and fill water. Ifound many of the islanders much inclined to be friends with us, especially the old people; on the otherhand, most of the younger were daring and insolent, and obliged us to keep to our arms. I staid till I saw nodisturbance was like to happen, and then returned to the ship, leaving the party under the command ofLieutenants Clerke and Edgcumbe. When they came on board to dinner, they informed me that the peoplecontinued to behave in the same inconsistent manner as in the morning; but more especially one man,whom Mr Edgcumbe was obliged to fire at, and believed he had struck with a swan shot. After that theothers behaved with more discretion; and as soon as our people embarked they all retired. While we weresitting at dinner an old man came on board, looked into many parts of the ship, and then went ashore again.In the afternoon, only a few of those who lived in the neighbourhood, with whom we were now upon atolerable footing, made their appearance at the watering-place. Paowang brought us an axe which had beenleft by our people, either in the woods or on the beach, and found by some of the natives. A few otherarticles were afterwards returned to us, which either they had stolen, or we had lost by our negligence, socareful were they now not to offend us in this respect.Early the next morning, I sent the launch, protected by a party of marines in another boat, to take in ballast,which was wanted. This work was done before breakfast; and after it, she was sent for wood and water,and with her the people employed in this service, under the protection of a serjeant's guard, which was nowthought sufficient, as the natives seemed to be pretty well reconciled to us. I was told, that they asked ourpeople to go home with them, on condition they stripped naked as they were. This shews that they had nodesign to rob them, whatever other they might have.[2][2] "The women and children, though they brought us several dainties, were notwithstanding soextremely timorous, that if we only fixed our eyes upon them, they instantly ran away, to the greatentertainment of the men. However, their coming so near us, was sufficient proof that we had madegreat progress towards gaining their confidence. We observed some of them who had a smile ontheir countenances, but in general they looked gloomy and melancholy. Whenever we presented abead, 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 fanciedidea of cleanliness, or of civility, must remain a matter of doubt."-- G.F.On the 9th, I sent the launch for more ballast, and the guard and wooders to the usual place. With these Iwent myself, and found a good many of the natives collected together, whose behaviour, though armed,was courteous and obliging; so that there was no longer any occasion to mark out the limits by a line; theyobserved them without this precaution. As it was necessary for Mr Wales's instruments to remain on shoreall the middle of the day, the guard did not return to dinner, as they had done before, till relieved by others.When I came off, I prevailed on a young man, whose name was Wha-a-gou, to accompany me. Beforedinner I shewed him every part of the ship; but did not observe that any thing fixed his attention a moment,or caused in him the least surprise. He had no knowledge of goats, dogs, or cats, calling them all hogs(Booga or Boogas). I made him a present of a dog and a bitch, as he shewed a liking to that kind of animal.Soon after he came on board, some of his friends followed in a canoe, and enquired for him, probablydoubtful of his safety. He looked out of the quarter gallery, and having spoken to them, they went ashore,and quickly returned with a cock, a little sugar-cane, and a few cocoa-nuts, as a present to me. Though hesat down with us, he did but just taste our salt pork, but eat pretty heartily of yam, and drank a glass of