Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0026
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[Page 26]
22.
Taoneroa
so like his own that he could tolerably well understand them & they him he immediately began to tell them that we wanted provisions & water for which we would give them Iron in exchange they agreed to the proposal but would by no means lay by their arms which he desird them do this he lookd upon as a sign of treachery & continualy told us to be upon our guard for they were not our freinds many words passd the cheif purport of which was that each side desird the other to come over to them at last however an Indian stripd himself & swam over without arms he was followd by two more & soon after by most of the rest who brought with them their arms we gave them Iron & beads they seemd to set little value upon either but especialy upon the iron the use of which they certainly were totaly ignorant of They caught at whatever was offerd them but would part with nothing but a few feathers their arms indeed they offerd to exchange for ours which they made several atempts to snatch from us we were upon our guard so much that all their attempts faild & they were made to understand that we must kill them if they snatchd any thing from us