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] moment he hit the object, their shouts of admiration gave us to understand that they did not in general succeed so well, even at so short a distance.

The arrow used upon this occasion was near three yards long; but they have others of inferior dimensions, which they likewife carry in quivers of bamboo.

28th. Two sentries kept guard day and night at the post we had established on the Island of Pangaïmotoo, who were sufficient to keep off such of the natives as might endeavour to steal into it secretly, to carry off the articles we had deposited there. Undoubtedly no apprehensions had been entertained, that they would break into it by force, for no precautions had been taken to guard against an assault. A native, however, took advantage of a heavy fall of rain, which came on just as day was breaking, to get behind one of our sentries, and gave him such a violent stroke on the head with his club, that he knocked him down, though his helmet-cap warded off much of the violence of the blow. The assassin immediately made off with his musket; and the other sentry instantly gave notice of it to those of us, who were sleeping in the tents. The alarm was great, and several moved nearer to the shore, that they might be able to reach the long-boat, if the