After This I Sent My Boat To
Sound; They Had First Forty, Then Thirty, And At Last Twenty Fathom
Water.
We followed the boat, and came to anchor about a quarter of
a mile from the shore, in twenty-six fathom water, fine black sand
and ooze.
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
frighten them, which it did effectually. 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 cocoa-nuts; 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 fresh of 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
motions 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 six tuns of water.
I sent ashore commodities to purchase hogs, &c. being informed that
the natives have plenty of them, as also of yams and other good
roots; but my men returned without getting anything that I sent them
for, the natives being unwilling to trade with us. Yet they admired
our hatchets and axes, but would part with nothing but cocoa-nuts,
which they used to climb the trees for; and so soon as they gave
them our men, they beckoned to them to be gone, for they were much
afraid of us.
The 18th I sent both boats again for water, and before noon they had
filled all my casks. In the afternoon I sent them both to cut wood;
but seeing about forty natives standing on the bay at a small
distance from our men, I made a signal for them to come aboard
again, which they did, and brought me word that the men which we saw
on the bay were passing that way, but were afraid to come nigh them.
At four o'clock I sent both the boats again for more wood, and they
returned in the evening. Then I called my officers to consult
whether it were convenient to stay here longer, and endeavour a
better acquaintance with these people, or go to sea. My design of
tarrying here longer was, if possible, to get some hogs, goats,
yams, or other roots, as also to get some knowledge of the country
and its product.
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