did not think it prudent to run so great
a hazard; more especially as, even in the midst of their civility, the
air, look, and language of these people seemed to savour of perfidy,
and besides the island was extremely populous. The Dutch noticed that
these islanders, always on coming on board their ships, carried a
piece of stick to which some white stuff was fixed, as if in the
nature of a flag of truce, whence they supposed they were often at
war with some neighbouring nation or tribe, and especially with the
inhabitants of _Moa_, particularly as none of their canoes ever went
ashore on that island, but always, on the contrary, passed it with
evident precipitation. These remarks furnished the Dutch with a
new project by which to acquire a considerable stock of provisions
speedily, by a sudden descent on Moa, which appeared to be but thinly
peopled, though as pleasant and fertile as the other, hoping to carry
off at once enough of provisions to enable them to prosecute their
voyage, without the risk of falling again into the distress they had
so lately endured.

This bold scheme required much prudence, and it was thought expedient
to land in different places at once, one party being directed to
advance into the country, while the others should be at hand to
support them, and to secure their retreat. This was accordingly very
happily effected; for, although the natives formed an ambush behind
the trees and bushes, and discharged their arrows at the principal
party as soon as they began to cut down the cocoa-trees, the Dutch
fortunately remained uninjured, and laid many of the natives dead by
discharges of their fire-arms. This so frightened the rest that they
took refuge in their canoes, whence they endeavoured by cries
and shouts to alarm the rest of their countrymen to come to their
assistance: But the Dutch were so judiciously posted as to constrain
them to remain in the mountains, by which means the main party were
enabled to carry off about 800 cocoa-nuts to their boats, with which
booty they rejoined their ships.

The _cocoa-tree_ is a species of palm, found in most parts of the East
and West Indies. The trunk is large, straight, and lofty, tapering
insensibly to the top, whence the fruit hangs in bunches united by a
tendril, not unlike the twig of a vine, but stronger. The flowers are
yellow, resembling those of the chesnut. As it produces new bunches
every month, there are always some quite ripe, some green, s