the way; however, we put to sea, after taking all our provisions and
ammunition, bag and baggage, on board; we had made both mast and sail for
our two large periaguas, and the other we paddled along as well as we
could; but when a gale sprung up, we took her in tow.

We sailed merrily forward for several days, meeting with nothing to
interrupt us. We saw several of the natives in small canoes catching fish,
and sometimes we endeavoured to come near enough to speak with them, but
they were always shy and afraid of us, making in for the shore as soon as
we attempted it; till one of our company remembered the signal of
friendship which the natives made us from the south part of the island,
viz., of setting up a long pole, and put us in mind that perhaps it was the
same thing to them as a flag of truce to us. So we resolved to try it; and
accordingly the next time we saw any of their fishing-boats at sea we put
up a pole in our canoe that had no sail, and rowed towards them. As soon as
they saw the pole they stayed for us, and as we came nearer paddled towards
us; when they came to us they showed themselves very much pleased, and gave
us some large fish, of which we did not know the names, but they were very
good. It was our misfortune still that we had nothing to give them in
return; but our artist, of whom I spoke before, gave them two little thin
plates of silver, beaten, as I said before, out of a piece of eight; they
were cut in a diamond square, longer one way than the other, and a hole
punched at one of the longest corners. This they were so fond of that they
made us stay till they had cast their lines and nets again, and gave us as
many fish as we cared to have.

All this while we had our eyes upon their boats, viewed them very narrowly,
and examined whether any of them were fit for our turn, but they were poor,
sorry things; their sail was made of a large mat, only one that was of a
piece of cotton stuff fit for little, and their ropes were twisted flags of