stern painted and full of men; this I thought came off to fight us, as it is probable they all did; therefore I fired another small shot over the great boat that was nigh us, which made them leave their babbling and take to their paddles.  We still lay becalmed; and therefore they, rowing wide of us, directed their course toward the other great boat that was coming off:  when they were pretty near each other I caused the gunner to fire a gun between them which he did very dexterously; it was loaded with round and partridge-shot; the last dropped in the water somewhat short of them, but the round shot went between both boats and grazed about 100 yards beyond them; this so affrighted them that they rowed away for the shore as fast as they could, without coming near each other; and the little boats made the best of their way after them:  and now, having a gentle breeze at south-south-east, we bore in to the bay after them.  When we came by the point I saw a great number of men peeping from under the rocks:  I ordered a shot to be fired close by to scare them.  The shot grazed between us and the point; and, mounting again, flew over the point, and grazed a second time just by them.  We were obliged to sail along close by the bays; and, seeing multitudes setting under the trees, I ordered a third gun to be fired among the coconut-trees to scare them; for, my business being to wood and water, I thought it necessary to strike some terror into the inhabitants, who were very numerous, and (by what I saw now and had formerly experienced) treacherous.  After this I sent my boat to sound; they had first 40, then 30, and at last 20 fathom water.  We followed the boat and came to anchor about a quarter of a mile from the shore in 26 fathom water, fine black sand and oaze.  We rode right against the mouth of a small river where I hoped to find fresh water.  Some of the natives standing on a small point at the river’s mouth, I sent a small shot over their heads to fright them; which it did effectually.

A large account of the author’s attempts to trade with them.

In the afternoon I sent my boat ashore to the natives who stood upon the point by the river’s mouth with a present of coconuts; when the boat was come near the shore they came running into the water, and put their nuts into the boat.  Then I made a signal for the boat to come aboard, and sent both it and the yawl into the river to look for fresh water, ordering the pinnace to lie near the river’s mouth while the yawl went up to search.  In an hour’s time they returned aboard with some barrecoes full of fresh water, which they had taken up about half a mile up the river.  After which I sent them again with casks; ordering one of them to fill water, and the other to watch the motion of the natives, lest they should make any opposition; but they did not, and so the boats returned a little before sunset with a tun and a half of water; and the next day by noon brought aboard about 6 tun of water.