This was almost every body’s opinion; and on this supposition, the carpenter’s mate was sent in the launch, with some sheets of tin.  I had not the least suspicion that our people had received any injury from the natives, our boats having frequently been higher up, and worse provided.  How much I was mistaken, too soon appeared; for Mr Burney having returned about eleven o’clock the same night, made his report of a horrible scene indeed, which cannot be better described than in his own words, which now follow.

“On the 18th, we left the ship; and having a light breeze in our favour, we soon got round Long Island, and within Long Point.  I examined every cove, on the larboard hand, as we went along, looking well all around with a spy-glass, which I took for that purpose.  At half past one, we stopped at a beach on the left-hand side going up East Bay, to boil some victuals, as we brought nothing but raw meat with us.  Whilst we were cooking, I saw an Indian on the opposite shore, running along a beach to the head of the bay.  Our meat being drest, we got into the boat and put off; and, in a short time, arrived at the head of this reach, where we saw an Indian settlement.”

“As we drew near, some of the Indians came down on the rocks, and waved for us to be gone, but seeing we disregarded them, they altered their notes.  Here we found six large canoes hauled up on the beach, most of them double ones, and a great many people; though not so many as one might expect from the number of houses and size of the canoes.  Leaving the boat’s crew to guard the boat, I stepped ashore with the marines (the corporal and five men), and searched a good many of their houses, but found nothing to give me any suspicion.  Three or four well-beaten paths led farther into the woods, where were many more houses; but the people continuing friendly, I thought it unnecessary to continue our search.  Coming down to the beach, one of the Indians had brought a bundle of Hepatoos (long spears), but seeing I looked very earnestly at him, he put them on the ground, and walked about with seeming unconcern.  Some of the people appearing to be frightened, I gave a looking-glass to one, and a large nail to another.  From this place the bay ran, as nearly as I could guess, N.N.W. a good mile, where it ended in a long sandy beach.  I looked all around with the glass, but saw no boat, canoe, or sign of inhabitant.  I therefore contented myself with firing some guns, which I had done in every cove as I went along.”

“I now kept close to the east shore, and came to another settlement, where the Indians invited us ashore.  I enquired of them about the boat, but they pretended ignorance.  They appeared very friendly here, and sold us some fish.  Within an hour after we left this place, in a small beach adjoining to Grass Cove, we saw a very large double canoe just hauled up, with two men and a dog.  The men, on seeing us, left their canoe, and ran up into the woods.