Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/254

 present Majesty, when Lord High Admiral. After his promotion, he continued to serve as first lieutenant of the Blossom until superseded at Rio Janeiro, in Aug. 1828, a period of fifteen months. An outline of the Blossom’s most interesting voyage will be found i; the following is her scientific commander’s account of an attack made upon her boats, under the orders of Lieutenant Peard, by the natives of Easter Island, in Nov. 1825:–

“When the ship had arrived off the N.W. point of the island, she was hove to for the purpose of taking observations; and a boat was lowered to examine the bays, and obtain soundings near the shore. Immediately she put off, the natives collected about the place where they supposed she would land. The sea broke heavily upon the rocks, and some of them apprehending the boat would be damaged, waved their cloaks to caution her against making the attempt to land; while others, eager to reach her, plunged into the sea and so surrounded her, that she was obliged to put about to get rid of them. They all showed a friendly disposition, and we began to hope that they had forgotten the unpardonable conduct of the American master, who carried several of the islanders away by force, to colonize Masafuera.

“Immediately the noon observation was obtained, we ran along the western side of the island, towards the bay in which Cook and Perouse had both anchored. The natives, as before, followed along the coast, and lighted fires in different directions, the largest of which was opposite the landing-place. With a view to ascertain the feelings of the inhabitants, and, if possible, to establish an amicable intercourse with them, I desired Lieutenant Peard to proceed with two boats to the shore, and by presents and kindness to endeavour to conciliate the people, and to bring off what fruit and vegetables he could. Lieutenant [John] Wainwright was directed to accompany him; and, though I did not apprehend any hostility, yet, as a precautionary measure, I armed the boats, and placed two marines in each; their strength was further increased by several of the officers, and the naturalist [Mr. George T. Lay]. Thus equipped, they rowed to the landing-place, in Cook’s Bay, while the ship remained at a short distance. The islanders were collected in great numbers, and were seen running to and fro exhibiting symptoms of expectation and delight. Some few, however, were observed throwing large stones at a mark behind a bank erected near the beach.

“As the boats approached, the anxiety of the natives was manifested l>y shouts, which overpowered the voices of the officers: and our boats, before they gained the beach, were surrounded by hundreds of swimmers, clinging to the gunwales, the sterns, and the rudders, until they became unmanageable. They all appeared to be friendly disposed, and none