be poisoned. Two men ventured on board, and were dismissed with presents.
Next morning, great numbers came off, some in canoes, and others swimming; and more of them came on board than the Captain wished to admit at a time. He took four of them into the cabin, and gave them presents, with which they were much pleased. In the mean time, a fellow in a canoe, being refused admittance into a boat that was alongside, bent his bow to shoot at the boat-keeper. Some of his countrymen prevented him, particularly one of the above four, who leaped for that purpose out of the cabin window: but the man having shaken him off, again directed his arrow toward the boat-keeper, when the Captain, who had come on deck, calling to him, he turned round to shoot at the Captain himself. The latter fired at him with small shot, which staggered him for a moment; but as he still remained in a hostile attitude, a second shot was required to make him drop his bow, and paddle off with his frightened comrades. At this time, some began to shoot arrows on the other side, and a musket discharged in the air having little effect on them, a four pound shot was fired over their heads, which sent them off in the utmost confusion, several of them leaving their canoes behind. The beating of drums, as if summoning the country to arms, was soon after heard on shore: but, in a short time, the islanders recovered from their panic; some came off to pick up their canoes, and finding that they were not molested, some even ventured to come alongside the ship.
After a short interval, the captain and some of his men, putting off in two boats, landed in the
