ropes were hanging down to the water, up which our divers used to
climb on their return from the day's pearling. These ropes were
attached to a sort of hawser running round the outside bulwarks of
the ship. We had not even time to haul these up, and the enemy
would certainly have found them very useful for boarding purposes
had they been allowed to get near enough. It was therefore very
necessary that some decisive step should be taken at once. While
we were debating what was best to be done, we were suddenly greeted
by a shower of arrows from the leading war-canoe. Without waiting
any longer I fired at the leader, who was standing in the prow, and
bowled him over. The bullet went right through his body, and then
bored a hole low down in the side of the canoe. The amazement of
the warriors on hearing the report and seeing the mysterious damage
done is quite beyond description; and before they could recover
from their astonishment, Jensen sent a charge of grape-shot right
into their midst, which shattered several of the canoes and caused
a general halt in the advance.

Again I made signs to them not to come nearer, and they seemed
undecided what to do. Jabbering consultations were held, but while
they were thus hesitating ten more canoes swung round the headland,
and their appearance seemed to give the advance-guard fresh
courage.

Once more they made for our ship, but I was ready for them with the
little cannon we had on board; it had been reloaded with grape
after the first discharge. With a roar the gun belched forth a
second deadly hail against the advancing savages, and the effect
was to demoralise them completely. One of the canoes was shattered
to pieces, and nearly all the men in it more or less seriously