--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While we were at work there came nine or…" description: "\"While we were at work there came nine or 10 of the natives to a small hill a little way from us, and stood there menacing and threatening of us, and ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/william-dampier-46307_came_while-we-were-at-work-there-came-nine-or_1383579.png" --- # While we were at work there came nine or 10 of the natives… ![“While we were at work there came nine or 10 of the natives to a small hill a little way from us, and stood there menacing and threatening of us, and making a great noise. At last one of them came towards us, and the rest followed at a distance.” quote by William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/william-dampier-46307_came_while-we-were-at-work-there-came-nine-or_1383579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/william-dampier-46307_came_while-we-were-at-work-there-came-nine-or_1383579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/william-dampier-46307_came_while-we-were-at-work-there-came-nine-or_1383579.png) > “While we were at work there came nine or 10 of the natives to a small hill a little way from us, and stood there menacing and threatening of us, and making a great noise. At last one of them came towards us, and the rest followed at a distance.” [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encounter with natives on a hill created tension and noise, highlighting fear of the unknown. **In simple terms:** Encounter caused tension and fear. Key Takeaway Approach unknown groups with caution and curiosity. Themes exploration conflict culture Mood tense curious Type historical narrative When to use this quote - travel - anthropology - military scouting - colonial encounters Key Concepts first contact fear of unknown Questions to Reflect On - What might have caused the natives' aggression? - How could peaceful dialogue have been initiated? A Different Perspective Assuming natives were hostile may ignore their perspective or motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Menacing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/menacing/) [Natives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natives/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“...with those penetrating eyes: he was too lovely to be menacing, but too intense to be innocent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-glenn/with-those-penetrating-eyes-he-was-too-lovely-to-be-menacing-but-too/) [Priscilla Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priscilla-glenn/) > [Autumn can be glorious but menacing too - the long shadows, brisk winds, scurrying leaves, impending frost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/autumn-can-be-glorious-but-menacing-too-the-long-shadows-brisk-winds/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [“Puck’s eyes gleamed, feral and menacing. “Oh, I don’t know, princess. Maybe it was because I was stupid enough to care about you. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/puck-s-eyes-gleamed-feral-and-menacing-oh-i-don-t-know-princess-maybe/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I suppose I'm a bit mean. My face on camera doesn't lend itself to happy nice guys. I think it's just that my bone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-suppose-i-m-a-bit-mean-my-face-on-camera-doesn-t-lend-itself-to/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“The inability to trust ourselves is the most menacing danger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jac-jemc/the-inability-to-trust-ourselves-is-the-most-menacing-danger/) [Jac Jemc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jac-jemc/) > [“He spoke in a low, threatening voice, appearing to be in some sort of a trance. 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