Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/143

] every thing in their power to prevail on us to continue our barter as before.

Our detachment having advanced a little way into the island, to examine the disposition of the natives, found near a thousand, who had slept in the neighbourhood of our post, and requested them to remove to a greater distance; which they all did, except a small party of armed men, who, lifting up their clubs and spears, refused to retire a single step. Perhaps it would have been proper to have punished their audacity, which led us to consider them as accomplices of the assassin: but a chief, named Toobou, one of the king's relations, fell upon them with fury, and quickly dispersed them by heavy blows with his club.

The General, before he got into the boat to return on board, made a few presents to the different chiefs, who were collected around him. He also required them to deliver up the assassin, and return the musket he had stolen, with the sabre that had been taken from our gunner the day before; informing them, that he would allow the barter to be renewed on these conditions alone.

All the natives retired when our long boat put off from the shore; but as soon as it arrived alongside the vessel, several of them went to the spot