and though peaceful signs were made to them, they answered with menaces, and threw a stone, which struck Mr. Sparrman on the arm. Upon this, two muskets were fired; and they all retired into the woods. The party reimbarked, and after ranging along the coast for some miles, landed a second time, at a place where four canoes were lying. Here the natives rushed down upon them, through an opening in the woods, and in spite of all attempts to conciliate them, they came on with the ferocity of wild boars, and threw their darts. Two or three muskets, discharged in the air, did not deter them from further hostilities; and one of their spears having passed close over the Captain's shoulder, he would have shot the assailant, had not his piece missed fire. He was glad that it did, as the natives were presently dispersed by the firing of others. It was remarkable, that when he tried his musket in the air immediately after, it went off as well as a piece could do. As no friendly intercourse with the natives could be obtained, our navigator quitted the place, to which he gave the appropriate name of Savage Island. The inhabitants, and their canoes, were like those of the Friendly Islands. Their coast is hazardous for invaders, being lined with coral rocks, thickly clothed with trees and bushes. In noticing the height of some of these rocks, in which several curious caverns had been hollowed out by the sea, the Captain proposes the inquiry, how these rocks, if produced by marine insects, came to be raised so much above the level of the sea; and judiciously hints at volcanic agency, as the most probable cause of their elevation.
After passing several small islands, and danger-
