登陆注册
14823400000059

第59章

At four o'clock I sent both the boats again for more wood, and they returned in the evening. Then I called my officers to consult whether it were convenient to stay here longer, and endeavour a better acquaintance with these people, or go to sea. My design of tarrying here longer was, if possible, to get some hogs, goats, yams, or other roots, as also to get some knowledge of the country and its product. My officers unanimously gave their opinions for staying longer here. So the next day I sent both boats ashore again, to fish and to cut more wood. While they were ashore about thirty or forty men and women passed by them; they were a little afraid of our people at first, but upon their making signs of friendship, they passed by quietly, the men finely bedecked with feathers of divers colours about their heads, and lances in their hands; the women had no ornament about them, nor anything to cover their nakedness but a bunch of small green boughs before and behind, stuck under a string which came round their waists. They carried large baskets on their heads, full of yams. And this I have observed amongst all the wild natives I have known, that they make their women carry the burdens while the men walk before, without any other load than their arms and ornaments. At noon our men came aboard with the wood they had cut, and had caught but six fishes at four or five hauls of the seine, though we saw abundance of fish leaping in the bay all the day long.

In the afternoon I sent the boats ashore for more wood; and some of our men went to the natives' houses, and found they were now more shy than they used to be, had taken down all the cocoa-nuts from the trees, and driven away their hogs. Our people made signs to them to know what was become of their hogs, &e. The natives pointing to some houses in the bottom of the bay, and imitating the noise of those creatures, seemed to intimate that there were both hogs and goats of several sizes, which they expressed by holding their hands abroad at several distances from the ground.

At night our boats came aboard with wood, and the next morning I went myself with both boats up the river to the watering-place, carrying with me all such trifles and iron-work as I thought most proper to induce them to a commerce with us; but I found them very shy and roguish. I saw but two men and a boy. One of the men, by some signs, was persuaded to come to the boat's side, where I was; to him I gave a knife, a string of beads, and a glass bottle. The fellow called out, "Cocos, cocos," pointing to a village hard by, and signified to us that he would go for some; but he never returned to us: and thus they had frequently of late served our men. I took eight or nine men with me, and marched to their houses, which I found very mean, and their doors made fast with withies.

I visited three of their villages, and, finding all the houses thus abandoned by the inhabitants, who carried with them all their hogs, &c., I brought out of their houses some small fishing-nets in recompense for those things they had received of us. As we were coming away we saw two of the natives; I showed them the things that we carried with us, and called to them, "Cocos, cocos," to let them know that I took these things because they had not made good what they had promised by their signs, and by their calling out "Cocos."

While I was thus employed the men in the yawl filled two hogsheads of water, and all the barrecoes. About one in the afternoon I came aboard, and found all my officers and men very importunate to go to that bay where the hogs were said to be. I was loth to yield to it, fearing they would deal too roughly with the natives. By two o'clock in the afternoon many black clouds gathered over the land, which I thought would deter them from their enterprise; but they solicited me the more to let them go. At last I consented, sending those commodities I had ashore with me in the morning, and giving them a strict charge to deal by fair means, and to act cautiously for their own security. The bay I sent them to was about two miles from the ship. As soon as they were gone, I got all things ready, that, if I saw occasion, I might assist them with my great guns.

同类推荐
  • 省愆集

    省愆集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北平录

    北平录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 山歌

    山歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 黄帝素问灵枢集注

    黄帝素问灵枢集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 竹山词

    竹山词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 爱你,别逃!

    爱你,别逃!

    她是个不能期待幸福的人,可是,这个在飞机上遇到的男人,他用温柔的眼神和执着的爱意征服了她,让她深坠情网无法自拨……可是一场车祸让他失去了记忆,他们能否再续前缘呢?
  • 离离莫上殇

    离离莫上殇

    在青春懵懂的年龄遇见让自己怦然心动的人,在清楚明了自己感情无果的基础上,仍旧选择深陷其中、患得患失,她说:早恋我就没赶上,还不让我抓住单恋这个机会?于她而言,他是明媚的阳光,干净、纯洁;于他而言,她是什么?
  • 不灭均仙

    不灭均仙

    太古有劫,群仙皆惧!此劫,可灭天,可灭地,可它偏偏不该灭她!她若陨,葬了这天,埋了这地,又如何?
  • 天机之序章

    天机之序章

    天机难测,天意弄人,曾今的战天强者,热血英豪逝去,独留他黯然神伤,天机天机,何谓天机
  • 夜之将晓

    夜之将晓

    莫名的传承,是陷阱又或者是机缘。修炼路途多险阻,且看吾辈修士,一剑斩之!
  • 娇软王妃

    娇软王妃

    “夜王,求放过,”元脂重生回来,只想要离上辈子的那个男人远远的。夜王重生回来,只想要好好的宠着,护着,爱着,元脂,可事情好像出了点差错“娇儿,快到怀里来。”
  • 神葬,梦之彼岸

    神葬,梦之彼岸

    在联邦大陆上一直都传说着神界,百级成神是所有神师的梦想,少年演绎着怎样的传奇,古老的灵魂为何重现于世,所爱之人到底去了哪里,来自异界的客人又会带来怎样风波,让我们一起去追寻那个遥不可及的梦
  • 乐邦遗稿

    乐邦遗稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 都市邪佛

    都市邪佛

    【火爆畅销,名家推荐】八年前,名震世界的邪君,忽然之间消声觅迹。八年后,一名在孤儿院长大的拾荒少年,想不起八年前自己所有的记忆。因为一次意外,觉醒了前世的记忆,金鳞岂非池中物,一遇风云便化龙。是龙,就该翱翔九天之上,翻腾在云雾之间。上演一场激情四射的热血人生,缔造属于自己的辉煌传奇扛起大旗,向世人宣告:“我苏醒,是这个世界的王!”
  • 王俊凯之夏日浅笑

    王俊凯之夏日浅笑

    当她闯进小凯的生活,他们一起许下不离不弃的诺言,可如今面对外界的争议,他们还好保持着初心吗?,他们还会在一起吗?