Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/202

168 The chief, who had been killed the day before by Trobriant, appeared to be greatly loved by the natives, for several displayed much sensibility in lamenting his death.

For fear they should endeavour to make reprisals on us, the General ordered every person belonging to our ships, to remain within the place where the trade was carried on.

Our ships were sufficiently stocked with all such provision as these people could furnish. As we had now nothing more to apprehend from the consequences of competition, some articles of hardware were distributed among the crew, that they might procure a few things for themselves. On this the natives raised their demands for their goods to a very high price, frequently asking ten times as much as before they had been contented to take.

We saw in their possession an iron hook, which they had had skill enough to form like those which they fabricate of bone, tortoise-shell, mother-of-pearl, and other animal substances, the figure of which may be seen in Plate XXXII, Fig. 27 and 28. The line, to which it was fixed, was intended, undoubtedly, to fish in very deep water, for a pretty large piece of alabaster, cut into a conical shape, was fastened to it. (See Plate XXXII, Fig. 25 and 26).