Notable Voyagers, From Columbus to NordenskioldKingston, William Henry Giles
History
Notable Voyagers, From Columbus to Nordenskiold
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Explorers; Voyages and travels
The rest of the canoes came rushing on from every side, the people in
them throwing showers of heavy stones on board. As they did so Captain
Schouten ordered his crew to open upon them with musketry, and at the
same time the great guns, which had been loaded with bullets and nails,
were fired right down on the surrounding canoes. This had the desired
effect, for the savages in the nearest canoes, leaping overboard,
endeavoured to make for the shore, while the others paddled off as fast
as they could, endeavouring to escape from the anger of the white men,
whom they had so treacherously endeavoured to destroy. It was found
that their assailants came from the lower or more southerly of the two
islands, which the Dutchmen, therefore, named Traitors' Island.
Not wishing to have anything more to do with such people, Captain
Schouten ordered the anchor to be weighed, and the _Unity_ stood towards
another island about thirty leagues off, where he hoped to be more
fortunate in obtaining refreshments. As the ship approached the island
the boat was sent along the shore to sound, for the purpose of
discovering good anchorage ground.
While the ship was standing off the shore about a dozen canoes came off,
bringing a small quantity of flying-fish. These the natives willingly
exchanged for beads; but Captain Schouten, deeming it unwise to allow
them to come alongside, ordered them under the stern, when the exchange
was made by means of a rope, the beads being let down and the fish
hauled up. The savages, having disposed of their fish, paddled away for
the _Unity's_ boat, which was engaged in sounding. Getting up to her,
they suddenly made an attempt to board, but their intention being
perceived, they were met with so warm a reception from the Dutchmen's
guns, pikes, and cutlasses, that two were killed, and the rest were glad
to hurry away as fast as they could.
The shores of this island were composed of black cliffs with green
summits, and numbers of cocoa-nut-trees growing on them. Several huts
were seen scattered about, and at one place there was a large village,
close to a shelving beach.
As no convenient anchorage was found, Captain Schouten now stood away to
the south-west, hoping to discover the great southern land of which he
was in search.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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