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Flinders's Providence Logbook Sep 6, 1792

Remarks Thursday September 6th 1792 H.M.S. Providence Amongst Islands off the South Coast of New Guinea

When the Cutter returned, Mr Tobin the Officer in her informed us that he had had a Skirmish with the Indians. at first on seeing four large Canoes coming towards him he made the Signal to the Whale boat to come and assist him, but she either did not or would not see it and returned on board altho' they had seen the Canoes coming up with the Cutter. When Mr Tobin saw himself thus situated, he loaded all the Musketts which ammounted to 7 besides his own; equal to his Number of Men and made the Signal to the Ship for Assistance. One of the Canoes presently came up with him in which they saw about 9 Indians, quite black and stark naked, who at first made Signs apparently peacible and held a green Cocoa nut to him. their Signs he imitated as well as he could but did not think it prudent to go so near as to take the Cocoa Nutt and pulled forward for the Ship as before, upon which a Man who was sitting on the Top of the House in the Center of the Canoe and appeared to be the Chief said some thing to his Fellows who immediatley handed up a great Number of Bows and Arrows and began to string with great Expedition. two of them had drawn out their Arrows ready to let fly, when Mr Tobin conceived it time to fire in his own Defence and discharged six Pieces amongst them. they all fell down in the Canoe in the greatest Consternation except the Chief who was still sitting upon the House. This Man, the Cockswain of the Boat had a particular Desire to try his Skill upon, immediately the Smoke was a little dispersed he fired at and brought him down, as he says and did not fail to boast of it when he got on board thinking he had done a meritorious Action – While this was doing the Canoe had dropped a little the poor Indians began to look round them and finding they were at some Distance from their all powerful Foes, they up Sail and run down to their Companions. presently after they saw their all coming together very fast no Doubt with a determined resolution to cut the Cutter off; when the Pinnace fortunately came to their Assistance. on seeing which the Canoes left off Chace, set their Sails and stood for the Island A – No Boat could have been maneuvered better than the Indians did their Canoe to get up with the Cutter which was considerably to windward of them. in the Skirmish it is apparent the Lieutenant did not fire before it was absolutely necessary for had he had two or three Men killed or even one, he would not Have been able to pull the Boat up to the Ship and seeing one or two fall, the Indians would have been tempted to board him, in which Case notwithstanding the Superiority of his Arms he would have been able to make but a poor Defence against 16 Men for that Number the Canoe contained, 6 of them being below in the House when they first came up, but to fire after they saw the poor Fellows so frightened, when they had given up the Contest, was not much better than Murder at least it was Cruelty, butt from a Man whose Ideas are not very philosophical, as we may suppose an English Sailor is not, and who was under Apprehensions of being devoured if he did not conquer his Enemy, for they all had an Idea that they were Cannibals, from such a Man, one need not be surprised at such an Action, and Mr Tobin was not sufficiently apprised of his Intention to prevent it. Upon the whole tho' an uncandid World might condemn their Proceedings as sanguinary, yet I question whether, if any one of those had been in the same Situation, they would have acted better

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