least two thousand men.  Again they dispersed, but having soon collected into something like order, they hoisted white streamers, and pulled towards the ship’s stern, when they again began to throw stones with great force and dexterity, by the help of slings, each of the stones weighing about two pounds, and many of them wounded the people on board.  At length a shot hit the canoe that apparently had the chief on board, and cut it asunder.  This was no sooner observed by the rest, than they all dispersed in such haste, that in half an hour there was not a single canoe to be seen; and all the people who had crowded the shore fled over the hills with the utmost precipitation.  What was to happen on the following day was matter of conjecture, but this point was soon decided.

     The white man landed;—­need the rest be told? 
     The new world stretch’d its dusk hand to the old.

Lieutenant Furneaux, on the next morning, landed, without opposition, close to a fine river that fell into the bay—­stuck up a staff on which was hoisted a pendant,—­turned a turf,—­and by this process took possession of the island in the name of his Majesty, and called it King George the Third’s Island.  Just as he was embarking, an old man, to whom the Lieutenant had given a few trifles, brought some green boughs, which he threw down at the foot of the staff, then retiring, brought about a dozen of his countrymen, who approached the staff in a supplicating posture, then retired and brought two live hogs, which they laid down at the foot of the staff, and then began to dance.  After this ceremony the hogs were put into a canoe and the old man carried them on board, handing up several green plantain leaves, and uttering a sentence on the delivery of each.  Some presents were offered him in return, but he would accept of none.

Concluding that peace was now established, and that no further attack would be made, the boats were sent on shore the following day to get water.  While the casks were filling, several natives were perceived coming from behind the hills and through the woods, and at the same time a multitude of canoes from behind a projecting point of the bay.  As these were discovered to be laden with stones, and were making towards the ship, it was concluded their intention was to try their fortune in a second grand attack.  ’As to shorten the contest would certainly lessen the mischief, I determined,’ says Captain Wallis, ’to make this action decisive, and put an end to hostilities at once.’  Accordingly a tremendous fire was opened at once on all the groups of canoes, which had the effect of immediately dispersing them.  The fire was then directed into the wood, to drive out the islanders, who had assembled in large numbers, on which they all fled to the hill, where the women and children had seated themselves.  Here they collected to the amount of several thousands, imagining themselves at that distance to be perfectly