A present of some nails and beads thrown among
them seemed, for the moment, to produce a good effect, but on our
attempt to land being renewed the natives again showed signs of
opposition. Hartog endeavoured to make them understand that no injury
was intended, but his friendly advances met with no success. A musket
was then fired amongst them, which was replied to by a flight of
spears, but no damage was done on either side. One of the natives then
threw a stone at our boat, which was answered by a discharge of small
shot, which struck him in the legs, causing him to jump like one of the
hopping animals I had seen on the island. When we pointed our muskets
again he and his companions made off into the bush. We then landed,
thinking the contest at an end, but we had scarcely quitted the boat
when the blacks returned, carrying shields for their defence. They
approached us and threw spears, but with no result. Another musket shot
convinced them their shields were no protection against our firearms,
when they again disappeared.
We then walked up to the blacks' camp and examined with much curiosity
the primitive nature of their dwellings.
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