What next ?
We have now got two groups, completely different in appearance, clothing (or lack thereof), no common language, and probably – ill prepared for the situation they faced. One wonders if the leader of the group on board their sailing vessel had even developed a plan, or some sort of strategy to deal with the situation. History tells that that there was often conflict between the group, and this could not have had a positive outlook for future contacts factor by any means.
Clearly, the people on the ship would have had a great desire to get ashore, not in the least for the opportunity to get out of the cramped quarters, and onto dry land. One can only guess at the discussions that went on aboard the vessel, ranging from a desire to go ashore and meet whatever situation they encountered, while others might have felt the need to move further to find a landing spot that was not occupied. Whatever decision was taken in each group could also have been influenced by the numbers, the presence of any weapons,(a mix of guns, swords, spears and wooden clubs) or any other instruments that could be perceived as weapons.
Clearly, the local inhabitants did not have firearms of any kind, but would rely on spears and clubs, while the travellers often had cannons, swords and spears. The question that must surely have troubled the leaders on either side was, “Should I wait for the first move, or should I show our strength?” A shot fired from a cannon (assuming the ships were equipped with these items normally found on travellers or adventurers vessels), or send a small group ashore, taking what might be appropriate in the circumstances. This is not a position I would have enjoyed as a leader of this group , for there was no predictability or past experience to guide the decision makers. The travellers might well have been concerned about their food supply.
Ask yourself the question ‘What would I have done?), and I am sure you would wind end up with the same problem that faces me when I think about the situation. Clearly, there was a decision taken, as history shows us that the travellers did land (in a variety of situations) – one of them being that in some situations there was no-one of the beach, and the other was to select a few people (hopefully there were volunteers, told by the ship’s captain to get on the longboat and go to the shore with some ‘gifts’ (remember that the there was no real guide as tp what would be appropriate), but the decision ion was probably left to the ship’s captain. A small group would probably selected, and set off towards land in the longboat with a variety of ‘gifts’, hopefully regarded by those ashore as a peace offering.
In the next blog I try to conjure up some scenarios that might have developed once land had been reached. Till then –the SSA (Simple South Adrican)