s of offence and defence; so that little was wanting to
make them attack us; at least we thought so, by their pressing so much upon
us, and in spite of our endeavours to keep them off. Our early re-embarking
probably disconcerted their scheme; and after that, they all retired. The
friendly old man before mentioned, was in one of these parties; and we
judged, from his conduct, that his temper was pacific.

[1] Dalrymple's Collection of Voyages, vol. I. p. 140, 141.

[2] "Our ship now probably resembled an hospital; the poisoned
patients were still in a deplorable situation; they continued to have
gripes and acute pains in all their bones: In the day time they were
in a manner giddy, and felt a great heaviness in their heads; at
night, as soon as they were warm in bed, their pains redoubled, and
robbed them actually of sleep. The secretion of _saliva_ was
excessive; the skin peeled off from the whole body, and pimples
appeared on their hands. Those who were less affected with pains, were
much weaker in proportion, and crawled about the decks, emaciated to
mere shadows We had not one lieutenant able to do duty; and as one of
the mates and several of the midshipmen were likewise ill, the watches
were commanded by the gunner and the other mates. The dogs which had
unfortunately fed upon the same fish, were in a still worse condition,
as we could not give them any relief. They groaned and panted most
piteously, drank great quantities of water, and appeared to be
tortured with pain. Those which had eaten of the entrails were vastly
more affected than the rest.--G.F."

According to this gentleman, the crew never felt more severely the
tediousness of confinement to the ship, or were more tired of salt
provisions. Two sharks caught on the 31st afforded them a very
acceptable entertainment, and were greedily devoured. One of these, he
tells us, had in his maw four young turtles, of eighteen inches in
diameter, two large cuttle-fishes, and the feathers and skeleton of a
booby; yet notwithstanding so plentiful a repast, he seemed to be well
disposed for a piece of salt pork with which the hook was baited.--E.

SECTION V.

_An Intercourse established with the Natives; some Account of the Island,
and a Variety of Incidents that happened during our Stay at it._

As we wanted to take in a large quantity both of wood and