I observed that all the other natives walked in a crouching
posture while in the presence of Romata. Before our guests left us, the
captain ordered the brass gun to be uncovered and fired for their
gratification; and I have every reason to believe he did so for the
purpose of showing our superior power, in case the natives should
harbour any evil designs against us. Romata had never seen this gun
before, as it had not been uncovered on previous visits, and the
astonishment with which he viewed it was very amusing. Being desirous
of knowing its power, he begged that the captain would fire it; so a
shot was put into it. The chiefs were then directed to look at a rock
about two miles out at sea, and the gun was fired. In a second the top
of the rock was seen to burst asunder, and to fall in fragments into
the sea.
Romata was so delighted with the success of this shot that he pointed
to a man who was walking on the shore and begged the captain to fire at
him, evidently supposing that his permission was quite sufficient to
justify the captain in such an act. He was therefore surprised, and not
a little annoyed, when the captain refused to fire at the native, and
ordered the gun to be housed.
Of all the things, however, that afforded matter of amusement to these
savages, that which pleased Romata's visitor most was the ship's pump.
He never tired of examining it and pumping up the water.
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