He then put off to a little distance, and, on holding up the branch of a cocoa-nut tree, there was an universal shout from all the canoes, which at the same moment moved towards the ship, and a shower of stones was poured into her on every side.

The guard was now ordered to fire, and two of the quarter-deck guns, loaded with small shot, were fired among them at the same time, which created great terror and confusion, and caused them to retreat to a short distance.

In a few minutes, however, they renewed the attack.

The great guns were now ordered to be discharged among them, and also into a mass of canoes that were putting off from the shore.

It is stated that, at this time, there could not be less than three hundred canoes about the ship, having on board at least two thousand men.