stones into them, and wounding some of the men. It
now became necessary to act in earnest, so a musket-shot was discharged
at the savage who began the attack. The ball pierced his shoulder,
whereupon the whole host paddled to the shore in great terror and
confusion.

Notwithstanding this, the islanders soon returned to the ship with their
boughs of peace: a speech was made by one of them. A few trinkets were
given by the Europeans, and friendship was again restored; but next
morning, when the boats were in-shore searching for fresh water, a
second attack was made upon them. Three large canoes ran against the
ship's cutter, and stove in some of her upper planks. The natives were
about to leap on board when a volley was fired into them, and two of
their number fell into the sea. On seeing this they instantly retired,
and the wounded men were dragged into the canoes.

Never having seen the effects of fire-arms before, the astonished
savages apparently could not understand what was wrong with their
comrades. They set them on their feet, but finding they could not
stand, they tried to make them sit upright. One of them being only
wounded, was able to remain in this position, but the other was dead, so
they had to lay him in the bottom of their canoe. Once again they made
peaceful signs, and Wallis, who was most anxious to avoid bloodshed, met
them more than half-way. Traffic was speedily opened, and a
considerable quantity of fruit, fowls, and hogs was obtained in exchange
for scissors, knives, beads, and small trinkets of little value. But
this did not last long. Warlike preparations were renewed by the
natives, and many of their canoes were seen to be filled with large
pebbles. At last an attack was made on the ship itself, and a regular
battle was fought.

This happened early in the morning when the sailors were engaged
trafficking with the people in the canoes that contained provisions.
Captain Wallis observed, with some anxiety, that, besides those
provision canoes, many others of large size and filled with stones were
gradually crowding round the ship; he therefore kept part of the crew
armed, and loaded his guns. More canoes were putting off from shore and
crowding round until there were about three hundred of them, with
upwards of two thousand men, some of whom sang a gruff sort of war-song,
while others blew into a shell as if it were a trumpet, and some played
on an instrument resembling a flute.