Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0079
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[Page 79]
75
Novr. 1769. Opoorage
went on shore to Observe the transit of Mercury which he did without the smallest cloud intervening to Obstruct him a fortunate circumstance as except yesterday & today we have not had a fair clear day for some time.
About noon we were alarmd by the report of a great gun fird from the ship the occasion of which was this two boats canoes came to the ship very large & full of people they shewd by their behaviour that they were quite strangers or at least so much so as not to be at all afraid they soon enterd into trade & almost immediately cheated by taking the Cloth which was given to them without returning that which was bargaind for on this they immediately began to sing their war song as if to defy any revenge those on board might chuse to take this enragd the 2nd lieutenant so much that he leveld a musquet at the man who had still got the cloth in his hand & shot him dead the canoes went off to some distance but did not go quite away it was nescessary to send a boat ashore so least they might atempt to revenge his death upon the boat A round shot was fird over them which had the desird Effect of putting them to flight immediately the news of this event was immediately brought