the canoe, and swim ashore with her, under her off side.
The ship being moored, the Captain embarked with the marines, and a party of seamen, in three boats; and made for the landing place, where the natives had left a space for them, and had deposited a few small bunches of plantains, a yam, and two or three roots; between which and the water, four small reeds were stuck upright in the sand. Paowang and two others stood here, inviting the party to land. The Captain, remembering the trap laid for him at Erromango, made signs for both divisions to retire farther back, and leave more room; and Paowang seemed to desire them to comply. But as they kept their stations, and increased in numbers, the Captain, to frighten them, ordered a musket to be fired over the right hand division, which was by far the strongest. For a moment they were alarmed; but presently recovering themselves, they began to display their weapons. One fellow held up his posteriors, so as to express his defiance and contempt. Upon this three or four muskets were fired, as a signal for ship to fire a few great guns; which presently dispersed them. The Captain and his friends the landed, and marked out the limits on the right and left, by a line. Paowang still kept his ground, while his comrades had fled; and his confidence was rewarded with a present. Others gradually approached; but were now more friendly and civil: some laying aside their arms, and some climbing the cocoa-nut trees, and casting down nuts to their visitors, who gave them presents in return. The Captain made signs, that wood was wanted, as well as water; and his aged friend, with those
