Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/260

212 heads, which is done with as much expedition as if thrown with the hand. These stones, cut from a steatite of considerable hardness, are very smooth, for which reason the savages take the precaution to wet them with their spittle, to prevent their sliding from the two small cords of which the bottoms of their slings are formed.

The different movements of these savages having been perceived from on board the Recherche, the General ordered two cannon-shot to be fired on them, which made them immediately disperse across the wood; but soon after one of their chiefs advanced towards us alone and unarmed, holding in his hand a piece of white stuff, made of the bark of a tree, which the Commanding Officer received as a token that the good understanding between us and the savages should not be interrupted. Soon after four other natives came and sat down in the midst of us with as much confidence as their chief, behind whom they placed themselves; but he seemed much displeased with several others who came to rest themselves under the shade of the neighbouring trees, whom he several times called robbers (kaya).

We re-embarked at four o'clock, P.M. and were already steering towards our ships, when we saw a troop of savages running along the strand towards us, loaded with a variety of fruits, which