The anchor was got up, when some of the blacks seized
the painter, and others, in trying to capsize the boat, brought
the gunwale down to the water's edge, at the same time grappling
with the men to pull them out, and dragging the galley inshore
towards the shoal-water. The bowman, with the anchor in his hand,
was struck on the head with a stone-headed axe. The blow was
repeated, but fortunately took effect only on the wash-streak.
Another of the crew was struck at with a similar weapon, but
warded off the blow, although held fast by one arm, when, just as
the savage was making another stroke, Lieutenant Dayman, who up
till now had exercised the utmost forbearance, fired at him with
a musket. The man did not drop, although wounded in the thigh.
But even this, unquestionably their first experience of firearms,
did not intimidate the natives, one of whom, standing on a block
of coral, threw a spear which passed across the breast of one of
the boat's crew and lodged in the bend of one arm, opening a
vein. They raised a loud shout when the spear was seen to take
effect, and threw several others which missed. Lieutenant
Simpson, who had been watching what was going on, then fired from
the pinnace with buckshot and struck them, when, finding that the
large boat, though at anchor, could assist the smaller one, the
canoes were paddled inshore in great haste and confusion.
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