we were able, we had
nothing to do but to submit patiently to it. My apprehensions were,
however, a little alarmed, by the information I soon after received
from the serjeant of marines, who told me that, turning suddenly
round, he saw a man behind me holding a dagger in the position of
striking. In this he might possibly be mistaken; yet our situation was
certainly alarming and critical, and the smallest error on our side
might have been fatal to us. As our people were separated into three
small parties, one at the lake filling casks; another rolling them
down to the shore; and the third, at some distance, purchasing
provisions; it had once occurred to me, that it might be proper to
collect them altogether, and to execute and protect one duty at a
time. But on second thoughts, I judged it more advisable to let them
continue as they were. In case of a real attack, our whole force,
however advantageously disposed, could have made but a poor
resistance. On the other hand, I thought it of some consequence to
shew the natives that we were under no fears; and, what was still more
material, the crowd was by this means kept divided, and a considerable
part of them fully employed in bartering provisions.

It is probable that their dread of the effects of our arms was the
principal cause of their backwardness in attacking us; and, indeed,
the confidence we appeared to place in this advantage, by opposing
only five marines to their whole force, must have raised in them a
very high idea of our superiority. It was our business to keep up this
opinion as much as possible; and in justice to the whole party, I must
observe, that no men could possibly behave better, for the purpose of
strengthening these impressions. Whatever could be taken in jest, they
bore with the utmost temper and patience; and whenever any serious
attempt was made to interrupt them, they opposed it with bold looks
and menaces. By this management we succeeded so far as to get all the
casks down to the water side without any material accident.

While we were getting them into the launch, the natives, perceiving
the opportunity of plundering would soon, be over, became every moment
more daring and insolent. On this occasion I was indebted to the
serjeant of marines, for suggesting to me the advantage that would
arise from sending off his party first into the boats; by which means
the muskets of the soldiers, which, as I have already mentioned, were
the objects the