arian Islands, as they are now usually called,) which, for a
reason before mentioned, is omitted.]

On our arrival, we found that the Spanish bark, the old object of
their hopes, had undergone a new metamorphosis: For those we had
left onshore began to despair of our return, and conceiving that the
lengthening the bark, as formerly proposed, was both a toilsome and
unnecessary measure, considering the small number they consisted of,
they had resolved to join her again, and to restore her to her first
state; and in this scheme they had made some progress; for they had
brought the two parts together, and would have soon completed her, had
not our coming back put a period to their labours and disquietudes.

These people we had left behind informed us, that, just before we were
seen in the offing, two proas had stood in very near the shore, and
had continued there for some time; but, on the appearance of our
ship, they crowded away, and were presently out of sight. And, on this
occasion, I must mention an incident, which, though it happened during
the first absence of the ship, was then omitted, to avoid interrupting
the course of the narration.

It hath been already observed, that a part of the detachment, sent to
this island under the command of the Spanish Serjeant, lay concealed
in the woods; and we were the less solicitous to find them out, as our
prisoners all assured us, that it was impossible for them to get
off, and consequently that it was impossible for them to send any
intelligence about us to Guam. But when the Centurion drove out to
sea, and left the commodore on shore, he one day, attended by some
of his officers, endeavoured to make the tour of the island: In this
expedition, being on a rising ground, they perceived in the valley
beneath them the appearance of a small thicket, which, by observing
more nicely, they found had a progressive motion: This at first
surprised them; but they soon discovered, that it was no more than
several large cocoa bushes, which were dragged along the ground, by
persons concealed beneath them. They immediately concluded that
these were some of the Serjeant's party (which, was indeed true); and
therefore the commodore and his people made after them, in hopes
of finding out their retreat. The Indians soon perceived they were
discovered, and hurried away with precipitation; but Mr Anson was so
near them, that he did not lose sight of them till they arrived at
their cell, which h