The Mutiny of the Bounty | Page 4

turf,--and by this process took possession

of the island in the name of his Majesty, and called it _King George the
Third's Island_. Just as he was embarking, an old man, to whom the
Lieutenant had given a few trifles, brought some green boughs, which
he threw down at the foot of the staff, then retiring, brought about a
dozen of his countrymen, who approached the staff in a supplicating
posture, then retired and brought two live hogs, which they laid down
at the foot of the staff, and then began to dance. After this ceremony the
hogs were put into a canoe and the old man carried them on board,
handing up several green plantain leaves, and uttering a sentence on the
delivery of each. Some presents were offered him in return, but he
would accept of none.
Concluding that peace was now established, and that no further attack
would be made, the boats were sent on shore the following day to get
water. While the casks were filling, several natives were perceived
coming from behind the hills and through the woods, and at the same
time a multitude of canoes from behind a projecting point of the bay.
As these were discovered to be laden with stones, and were making
towards the ship, it was concluded their intention was to try their
fortune in a second grand attack. 'As to shorten the contest would
certainly lessen the mischief, I determined,' says Captain Wallis, 'to
make this action decisive, and put an end to hostilities at once.'
Accordingly a tremendous fire was opened at once on all the groups of
canoes, which had the effect of immediately dispersing them. The fire
was then directed into the wood, to drive out the islanders, who had
assembled in large numbers, on which they all fled to the hill, where
the women and children had seated themselves. Here they collected to
the amount of several thousands, imagining themselves at that distance
to be perfectly safe. The captain, however, ordered four shot to be fired
over them, but two of the balls, having fallen close to a tree where a
number of them were sitting, they were so struck with terror and
consternation, that, in less than two minutes, not a creature was to be
seen. The coast being cleared, the boats were manned and armed, and
all the carpenters with their axes were sent on shore, with directions to
destroy every canoe they could find; and we are told this service was
effectually performed, and that more than fifty canoes, many of which
were sixty feet long, and three broad, and lashed together, were cut to

pieces.
This act of severity must have been cruelly felt by these poor people,
who, without iron or any kind of tools, but such as stones, shells, teeth,
and bones supplied them with, must have spent months and probably
years in the construction of one of these extraordinary double boats.
Such was the inauspicious commencement of our acquaintance with the
natives of Otaheite. Their determined hostility and perseverance in an
unequal combat could only have arisen from one of two motives--either
from an opinion that a ship of such magnitude, as they had never before
beheld, could only be come to their coast to take their country from
them; or an irresistible temptation to endeavour, at all hazards, to
possess themselves of so valuable a prize. Be that as it may, the dread
inspired by the effects of the cannon, and perhaps a conviction of the
truth of what had been explained to them, that the 'strangers wanted
only provisions and water,' had the effect of allaying all jealousy; for
from the day of the last action, the most friendly and uninterrupted
intercourse was established, and continued to the day of the
_Dolphin's_ departure; and provisions of all kinds, hogs, dogs, fruit,
and vegetables, were supplied in the greatest abundance, in exchange
for pieces of iron, nails, and trinkets.
As a proof of the readiness of these simple people to forgive injuries, a
poor woman, accompanied by a young man bearing a branch of the
plantain tree, and another man with two hogs, approached the gunner,
whom Captain Wallis had appointed to regulate the market, and
looking round on the strangers with great attention, fixing her eyes
sometimes on one and sometimes on another, at length burst into tears.
It appeared that her husband and three of her sons had been killed in the
attack on the ship. While this was under explanation, the poor creature
was so affected as to require the support of the two young men, who
from their weeping were probably two more of her sons. When
somewhat composed, she ordered the two hogs to be delivered to the
gunner, and gave him her