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and they turned about in their minds the hoſtile ſcenes which they might poſſibly have to encounter. Theſe reflections did not contribute to the comfort of the night, which turned out more tempeſtuous than the former. About eight o'clock in the morning, when all were buſily employed in drying their proviſions, clearing the ground, &c. they ſaw two canoes with men in them advancing towards them. This gave a general alarm, and all the people ran to their arms; Captain Wilſon deſired them to keep out of fight until they perceived what reception he met with, but to be prepared for the worſt. They ſoon perceived that the natives had diſcovered the Captain, and a Malay, with whom he was converſing, and kept their eyes fixed on that part of the ſhore where they ſtood. The natives advanced very cautiouſly towards them, and when they came near enough to be heard, the Captain deſired the Malay to ſpeak to them in his own language, which at firſt they did not underſtand but they ſtopped their canoes, and ſoon after one of them aſked in the Malay tongue, whether they were friends or enemies? The Malay was directed to reply, that they were Engliſhmen, who had loſt their ſhip on the reef, but had laved their lives, and were friends. On this they ſeemed to confer to-
