at she was missing, and immediately called all
hands aft on the quarter-deck and found none missing except
the man who was in her as boat-keeper. We then hoisted the
small boat out to go in search of her, but found, on
lowering her into the water, she leaked in such a manner as
obliged us to hoist her in again, which rendered it
impossible to search that night.

On the preceding evening an old man requested permission to
sleep on board, which was granted; but after missing the
boat we put him in irons. When daylight approached, no
canoes came off as usual, which confirmed our suspicions
that they had cut the boat adrift.

The women on board wished to go on shore. Captain Metcalfe
told them they might go when they thought proper. They all
immediately leaped into the water and swam to the shore, at
least three miles' distance. The old man also requested
leave to go, but leave was not granted him.

In the afternoon two or three canoes came alongside, with
presents from the chief, consisting of hogs and fruit; but
they were not accepted. The last that came we ordered
immediately away; but they paid little attention to it,
until we fired musket-shots at them, which killed and
wounded three or four.

Tried to Sink Ship with Knife.

Toward night a man swam from the shore to the cable, with a
knife in his hand, and afterward swam under the ship's
counter, where we saw him with the knife; he had once or
twice dived under water and started a piece of copper off
the ship's bottom, imagining, could he get the copper off,
the ship would sink. Captain Metcalfe fired a pistol at him
from the cabin window, but missed him. Three or four of the
people jumped into the boat and caught him. After bringing
him on board, Captain Metcalfe fully determined to hang him,
ordering a rope to be rove at the fore-yardarm and the rope
greased. But, by the persuasion of Mr. Chambers and myself,
he concluded to save his life and keep him prisoner.

The next day we observed four or five thousand people to
come down opposite the ship, all armed with slings, spears,
and arrows. At ten o'clock we hauled the ship within a
quarter of a mile of the shore, and fired round and grape
shot at them, and dislodged them from the village.

At twelve o'clock I went on shore with the boat and six