This page has already been transcribed. You can find new pages to transcribe here.

Transcription

[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

Current Status: 
Completed