BOOK V.

CAPTAIN KING’S JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS ON RETURNING TO THE SANDWICH

ISLANDS.

CHAP. I.

DESCRIPTION OF KARAKAKOOA BAY.—VAST CONCOURSE OF THE NATIVES.—POWER OF

THE CHIEFS OVER THE INFERIOR PEOPLE.—VISIT FROM KOAH, A PRIEST AND

WARRIOR.—THE MORAI AT KAKOOA DESCRIBED.—CEREMONIES AT THE LANDING OF

CAPTAIN COOK.—OBSERVATORIES ERECTED.—POWERFUL OPERATION OF THE TABOO.—

METHOD OF SALTING PORK IN TROPICAL CLIMATES.—SOCIETY OF PRIESTS

DISCOVERED.—THEIR HOSPITALITY AND MUNIFICENCE.—RECEPTION OF CAPTAIN

COOK.—ARTIFICE OF KOAH.—ARRIVAL OF TERREEOBOO, KING OF THE ISLAND.—

SINGULAR CEREMONY.—VISIT FROM THE KING.—RETURNED BY CAPTAIN COOK.

Karakakooa Bay is situated on the west side of the island of Owhyhee, in

a district called Akona. It is about a mile in depth, and bounded by two

low points of land, at the distance of half a league, and bearing south

south-east and north north-west from each other. On the north point,

which is flat and barren, stands the village of Kowrowa; and in the

bottom of the bay, near a grove of tall cocoa-nut trees, there is

another village of a more considerable size, called Kakooa: between

them, runs a high rocky cliff, inaccessible from the sea shore. On the

south side, the coast, for about a mile inland, has a rugged appearance;

beyond which the country rises with a gradual ascent, and is overspread

with cultivated inclosures and groves of cocoa-nut trees, where the

habitations of the natives are scattered in great numbers. The shore,

all around the bay, is covered with a black coral rock, which makes the

landing very dangerous in rough weather; except at the village of

Kakooa, where there is a fine sandy beach, with a _Morai_, or

burying-place, at one extremity, and a small well of fresh water at the

other. This bay appearing to Captain Cook a proper place to refit the

ships, and lay in an additional supply of water and provisions, we

moored on the north side, about a quarter of a mile from the shore,

Kowrowa bearing north-west.

As soon as the inhabitants perceived our intention of anchoring in the

bay, they came off from the shore in astonishing numbers, and expressed

their joy by singing and shouting, and exhibiting a variety of wild and

extravagant gestures. The sides, the decks, and rigging of both ships

were soon completely covered with them; and a multitude of women and

boys, who had not been able to get canoes, came swimming round us in

shoals; many of whom, not finding room on board, remained the whole day

playing in the water.

Among the chiefs who came on board the Resolution, was a young man,

called Pareea, whom we soon perceived to be a person of great authority.

On presenting himself to Captain Cook, he told him, that he was

_Jakanee_[1] to the king of the island, who was at that time engaged on

a military expedition at Mowee, and was expected to return within three

or four days. A few presents from Captain Cook attached him entirely to

our interests, and he became exceedingly useful to us in the management

of his countrymen, as we had soon occasion to experience. For we had not

been long at anchor, when it was observed that the Discovery had such a

number of people hanging on one side, as occasioned her to heel

considerably: and that the men were unable to keep off the crowds which

continued pressing into her. Captain Cook, being apprehensive that she

might suffer some injury, pointed out the danger to Pareea, who

immediately went to their assistance, cleared the ship of its

incumbrances, and drove away the canoes that surrounded her.

The authority of the chiefs over the inferior people appeared, from this

incident, to be of the most despotic kind. A similar instance of it

happened the same day on board the Resolution; where the crowd being so

great, as to impede the necessary business of the ship, we were obliged

to have recourse to the assistance of Kaneena, another of their chiefs,

who had likewise attached himself to Captain Cook. The inconvenience we

laboured under being made known, he immediately ordered his countrymen

to quit the vessel; and we were not a little surprized to see them jump

overboard, without a moment’s hesitation; all except one man, who

loitering behind, and showing some unwillingness to obey, Kaneena took

him up in his arms, and threw him into the sea.

Both these chiefs were men of strong and well-proportioned bodies, and

of countenances remarkably pleasing. Kaneena especially, whose portrait

Mr. Webber has drawn, was one of the finest men I ever saw. He was about

six feet high, had regular and expressive features, with lively, dark

eyes; his carriage was easy, firm, and graceful.

It has been already mentioned, that during our long cruize off this

island, the inhabitants had always behaved with great fairness and

honesty in their dealings, and had not shown the slightest propensity to

theft; which appeared to us the more extraordinary, because those with

whom we had hitherto held any intercourse, were of the lowest rank,

either servants or fishermen. We now found the case exceedingly altered.

The immense crowd of islanders, which blocked up every part of the

ships, not only afforded frequent opportunity of pilfering without risk

of discovery, but our inferiority in number held forth a prospect of

escaping with impunity in case of detection. Another circumstance, to

which we attributed this alteration in their behaviour, was the presence

and encouragement of their chiefs; for generally tracing the booty into

the possession of some men of consequence, we had the strongest reason

to suspect that these depredations were committed at their instigation.

Soon after the Resolution had got into her station, our two friends,

Pareea and Kaneena, brought on board a third chief, named Koah, who, we

were told, was a priest, and had been, in his youth, a distinguished

warrior. He was a little old man, of an emaciated figure; his eyes

exceedingly sore and red, and his body covered with a white leprous

scurf, the effects of an immoderate use of the _ava_. Being led into the

cabin, he approached Captain Cook with great veneration, and threw over

his shoulders a piece of red cloth, which he had brought along with him.

Then stepping a few paces back, he made an offering of a small pig,

which he held in his hand, whilst he pronounced a discourse that lasted

for a considerable time. This ceremony was frequently repeated during

our stay at Owhyhee, and appeared to us, from many circumstances, to be

a sort of religious adoration. Their idols we found always arrayed with

red cloth, in the same manner as was done to Captain Cook; and a small

pig was their usual offering to the _Eatooas_. Their speeches, or

prayers, were uttered too with a readiness and volubility that indicated

them to be according to some formulary.

When this ceremony was over, Koah dined with Captain Cook, eating

plentifully of what was set before him; but, like the rest of the

inhabitants of the islands in these seas, could scarcely be prevailed on

to taste a second time our wine or spirits. In the evening, Captain

Cook, attended by Mr. Bayly and myself, accompanied him on shore. We

landed at the beach, and were received by four men, who carried wands

tipt with dogs’ hair, and marched before us, pronouncing with a loud

voice a short sentence, in which we could only distinguish the word

_Orono_.[2] The crowd, which had been collected on the shore, retired at

our approach; and not a person was to be seen, except a few lying

prostrate on the ground, near the huts of the adjoining village.

Before I proceed to relate the adoration that was paid to Captain Cook,

and the peculiar ceremonies with which he was received on this fatal

island, it will be necessary to describe the _Morai_, situated, as I

have already mentioned, at the south side of the beach at _Kakooa_. It

was a square solid pile of stones, about forty yards long, twenty broad,

and fourteen in height. The top was flat and well paved, and surrounded

by a wooden rail, on which were fixed the sculls of the captives,

sacrificed on the death of their chiefs. In the centre of the area,

stood a ruinous old building of wood, connected with the rail on each

side, by a stone wall, which divided the whole space into two parts. On

the side next the country, were five poles, upward of twenty feet high,

supporting an irregular kind of scaffold; on the opposite side, toward

the sea, stood two small houses, with a covered communication.

We were conducted by Koah to the top of this pile by an easy ascent,

leading from the beach to the north-west corner of the area. At the

entrance, we saw two large wooden images, with features violently

distorted, and a long piece of carved wood, of a conical form inverted,

rising from the top of their heads; the rest was without form, and

wrapped round with red cloth. We were here met by a tall young man with

a long beard, who presented Captain Cook to the images, and after

chanting a kind of hymn, in which he was joined by Koah, they led us to

that end of the _Morai_, where the five poles were fixed. At the foot of

them were twelve images ranged in a semicircular form, and before the

middle figure, stood a high stand or table, exactly resembling the

_Whatta_[3] of Otaheite, on which lay a putrid hog, and under it pieces

of sugar-cane, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, plantains, and sweet potatoes.

Koah having placed the Captain under this stand, took down the hog, and

held it toward him; and after having a second time addressed him in a

long speech, pronounced with much vehemence and rapidity, he let it fall

on the ground, and led him to the scaffolding, which they began to climb

together, not without great risk of falling. At this time we saw, coming

in solemn procession, at the entrance of the top of the _Morai_, ten men

carrying a live hog, and a large piece of red cloth. Being advanced a

few paces, they stopped, and prostrated themselves; and Kaireekeea, the

young man above-mentioned, went to them, and receiving the cloth,

carried it to Koah, who wrapped it round the Captain, and afterward

offered him the hog, which was brought by Kaireekeea with the same

ceremony.

Whilst Captain Cook was aloft, in this awkward situation, swathed round

with red cloth, and with difficulty keeping his hold amongst the pieces

of rotten scaffolding, Kaireekeea and Koah began their office, chanting

sometimes in concert, and sometimes alternately. This lasted a

considerable time; at length Koah let the hog drop, when he and the

Captain descended together. He then led him to the images before

mentioned, and having said something to each in a sneering tone,

snapping his fingers at them as he passed, he brought him to that in the

centre, which, from its being covered with red cloth, appeared to be in

greater estimation than the rest. Before this figure he prostrated

himself, and kissed it, desiring Captain Cook to do the same; who

suffered himself to be directed by Koah throughout the whole of this

ceremony.

We were now led back into the other division of the _Morai_, where there

was a space, ten or twelve feet square, sunk about three feet below the

level of the area. Into this we descended, and Captain Cook was seated

between two wooden idols, Koah supporting one of his arms, whilst I was

desired to support the other. At this time, arrived a second procession

of natives, carrying a baked hog, and a pudding, some bread-fruit,

cocoa-nuts, and other vegetables. When they approached us, Kaireekeea

put himself at their head, and presenting the pig to Captain Cook in the

usual manner, began the same kind of chant as before, his companions

making regular responses. We observed, that after every response, their

parts became gradually shorter, till, toward the close, Kaireekeea’s

consisted of only two or three words, which the rest answered by the

word _Orono_.

When this offering was concluded, which lasted a quarter of an hour, the

natives sat down, fronting us, and began to cut up the baked hog, to

peel the vegetables, and break the cocoa-nuts; whilst others employed

themselves in brewing the _ava_; which is done, by chewing it in the

same manner as at the Friendly Islands. Kaireekeea then took part of the

kernel of a cocoa-nut, which he chewed, and wrapping it in a piece of

cloth, rubbed with it the Captain’s face, head, hands, arms, and

shoulders. The _ava_ was then handed round, and after we had tasted it,

Koah and Pareea began to pull the flesh of the hog in pieces, and to put

it into our mouths. I had no great objection to being fed by Pareea, who

was very cleanly in his person; but Captain Cook, who was served by

Koah, recollecting the putrid hog, could not swallow a morsel; and his

reluctance, as may be supposed, was not diminished, when the old man,

according to his own mode of civility, had chewed it for him.

When this last ceremony was finished, which Captain Cook put an end to

as soon as he decently could, we quitted the _Morai_, after distributing

amongst the people some pieces of iron and other trifles, with which

they seemed highly gratified. The men with wands conducted us to the

boats, repeating the same words as before. The people again retired, and

the few that remained, prostrated themselves as we passed along the

shore. We immediately went on board, our minds full of what we had seen,

and extremely well satisfied with the good dispositions of our new

friends. The meaning of the various ceremonies, with which we had been

received, and which, on account of their novelty and singularity, have

been related at length, can only be the subject of conjectures, and

those uncertain and partial: they were, however, without doubt,

expressive of high respect on the part of the natives; and, as far as

related to the person of Captain Cook, they seemed approaching to

adoration.

The next morning I went on shore with a guard of eight marines,

including the corporal and lieutenant, having orders to erect the

observatory in such a situation as might best enable me to superintend

and protect the waterers, and the other working parties that were to be

on shore. As we were viewing a spot conveniently situated for this

purpose, in the middle of the village, Pareea, who was always ready to

show both his power and his good-will, offered to pull down some houses

that would have obstructed our observations. However, we thought it

proper to decline this offer, and fixed on a field of sweet potatoes

adjoining to the _Morai_, which was readily granted us; and the priests,

to prevent the intrusion of the natives, immediately consecrated the

place, by fixing their wands round the wall by which it was inclosed.

This sort of religious interdiction they call _taboo_; a word we heard

often repeated during our stay amongst these islanders, and found to be

of very powerful and extensive operation. A more particular explanation

of it will be given in the general account of these islands, under the

article of religion; at present it is only necessary to observe, that it

procured us even more privacy than we desired. No canoes ever presumed

to land near us; the natives sat on the wall, but none offered to come

within the _tabooed_ space, till he had obtained our permission. But

though the men, at our request, would come across the field with

provisions, yet not all our endeavours could prevail on the women to

approach us. Presents were tried, but without effect; Pareea and Koah

were tempted to bring them, but in vain; we were invariably answered,

that the _Eatooa_ and Terreeoboo (which was the name of their king)

would kill them. This circumstance afforded no small matter of amusement

to our friends on board, where the crowds of people, and particularly of

women, that continued to flock thither, obliged them almost every hour

to clear the vessel, in order to have room to do the necessary duties of

the ship. On these occasions, two or three hundred women were frequently

made to jump into the water at once, where they continued swimming and

playing about, till they could again procure admittance.

From the 19th to the 24th, when Pareea and Koah left us to attend

Terreeoboo, who had landed on some other part of the island, nothing

very material happened on board. The caulkers were set to work on the

sides of the ships, and the rigging was carefully overhauled and

repaired. The salting of hogs for sea-store was also a constant, and one

of the principal objects of Captain Cook’s attention. As the success we

met with in this experiment, during our present voyage, was much more

complete than it had been in any former attempt of the same kind, it may

not be improper to give an account of the detail of the operation.

It has generally been thought impracticable to cure the flesh of animals

by salting, in tropical climates; the progress of putrefaction being so

rapid, as not to allow time for the salt to take (as they express it)

before the meat gets a taint, which prevents the effect of the pickle.

We do not find that experiments relative to this subject have been made

by the navigators of any nation before Captain Cook. In his first

trials, which were made in 1774, during his second voyage to the Pacific

Ocean, the success he met with, though very imperfect, was yet

sufficient to convince him of the error of the received opinion. As the

voyage, in which he was now engaged, was likely to be protracted a year

beyond the time for which the ships had been victualled, he was under

the necessity of providing, by some such means, for the subsistence of

the crews, or of relinquishing the further prosecution of his

discoveries. He therefore lost no opportunity of renewing his attempts,

and the event answered his most sanguine expectations.

The hogs, which we made use of for this purpose, were of various sizes,

weighing from four to twelve stone.[4] The time of slaughtering was

always in the afternoon; and as soon as the hair was scalded off, and

the entrails removed, the hog was divided into pieces of four or eight

pounds each, and the bones of the legs and chine taken out; and, in the

larger sort, the ribs also. Every piece then being carefully wiped and

examined, and the veins cleared of the coagulated blood, they were

handed to the salters, whilst the flesh remained still warm. After they

had been well rubbed with salt, they were placed in a heap, on a stage

raised in the open air, covered with planks, and pressed with the

heaviest weights we could lay on them. In this situation they remained

till the next evening, when they were again well wiped and examined, and

the suspicious parts taken away. They were then put into a tub of strong

pickle, where they were always looked over once or twice a day, and if

any piece had not taken the salt, which was readily discovered by the

smell of the pickle, they were immediately taken out, re-examined, and

the sound pieces put to fresh pickle. This, however, after the

precautions before used, seldom happened. After six days, they were

taken out, examined for the last time, and being again slightly pressed,

they were packed in barrels, with a thin layer of salt between them. I

brought home with me some barrels of this pork, which was pickled at

Owhyhee in January 1779, and was tasted by several persons in England,

about Christmas 1780, and found perfectly sound and wholesome.[5]

I shall now return to our transactions on shore at the observatory,

where we had not been long settled, before we discovered, in our

neighbourhood, the habitations of a society of priests, whose regular

attendance at the _Morai_ had excited our curiosity. Their huts stood

round a pond of water, and were surrounded by a grove of cocoa-nut

trees, which separated them from the beach and the rest of the village,

and gave the place an air of religious retirement. On my acquainting

Captain Cook with these circumstances, he resolved to pay them a visit;

and as he expected to be received in the same manner as before, he

brought Mr. Webber with him to make a drawing of the ceremony.

On his arrival at the beach, he was conducted to a sacred building

called _Harre-no-Orono_, or the house of _Orono_, and seated before the

entrance, at the foot of a wooden idol, of the same kind with those on

the _Morai_. I was here again made to support one of his arms, and after

wrapping him in red cloth, Kaireekeea, accompanied by twelve priests,

made an offering of a pig with the usual solemnities. The pig was then

strangled, and a fire being kindled, it was thrown into the embers, and

after the hair was singed off, it was again presented, with a repetition

of the chanting, in the manner before described. The dead pig was then

held for a short time under the Captain’s nose; after which it was laid,

with a cocoa-nut, at his feet, and the performers sat down. The _ava_

was then brewed, and handed round; a fat hog, ready dressed, was brought

in; and we were fed as before.

During the rest of the time we remained in the bay, whenever Captain

Cook came on shore, he was attended by one of these priests, who went

before him, giving notice that the _Orono_ had landed, and ordering the

people to prostrate themselves. The same person also constantly

accompanied him on the water, standing in the bow of the boat, with a

wand in his hand, and giving notice of his approach to the natives, who

were in canoes, on which they immediately left off paddling, and lay

down on their faces till he had passed. Whenever he stopped at the

observatory, Kaireekeea and his brethren immediately made their

appearance with hogs, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, &c. and presented them

with the usual solemnities. It was on these occasions that some of the

inferior chiefs frequently requested to be permitted to make an offering

to the _Orono_. When this was granted, they presented the hog

themselves, generally with evident marks of fear in their countenances;

whilst Kaireekeea and the priests chanted their accustomed hymns.

The civilities of this society were not, however, confined to mere

ceremony and parade. Our party on shore received from them, every day, a

constant supply of hogs and vegetables, more than sufficient for our

subsistence; and several canoes loaded with provisions were sent to the

ships with the same punctuality. No return was ever demanded, or even

hinted at in the most distant manner. Their presents were made with a

regularity, more like the discharge of a religious duty, than the effect

of mere liberality; and when we enquired at whose charge all this

munificence was displayed, we were told, it was at the expence of a

great man called Kaoo, the chief of the priests, and grandfather to

Kaireekeea, who was at that time absent attending the king of the

island.

As every thing relating to the character and behaviour of this people

must be interesting to the reader, on account of the tragedy that was

afterwards acted here, it will be proper to acquaint him, that we had

not always so much reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the

warrior chiefs, or _Earees_, as with that of the priests. In all our

dealings with the former, we found them sufficiently attentive to their

own interests; and besides their habit of stealing, which may admit of

some excuse, from the universality of the practice amongst the islanders

of these seas, they made use of other artifices equally dishonourable. I

shall only mention one instance, in which we discovered, with regret,

our friend Koah to be a party principally concerned. As the chiefs, who

brought us presents of hogs, were always sent back handsomely rewarded,

we had generally a greater supply than we could make use of. On these

occasions, Koah, who never failed in his attendance on us, used to beg

such as we did not want, and they were always given to him. It one day

happened, that a pig was presented us by a man whom Koah himself

introduced as a chief, who was desirous of paying his respects, and we

recollected the pig to be the same that had been given to Koah just

before. This leading us to suspect some trick, we found, on further

enquiry, the pretended chief to be an ordinary person; and on connecting

this with other circumstances, we had reason to suspect, that it was not

the first time we had been the dupes of the like imposition.

Things continued in this state till the 24th, when we were a good deal

surprised to find that no canoes were suffered to put off from the

shore, and that the natives kept close to their houses. After several

hours’ suspense, we learned that the bay was _tabooed_, and all

intercourse with us interdicted, on account of the arrival of

Terreeoboo. As we had not foreseen an accident of this sort, the crews

of both ships were obliged to pass the day without their usual supply of

vegetables. The next morning, therefore, they endeavoured, both by

threats and promises, to induce the natives to come alongside; and as

some of them were at last venturing to put off, a chief was observed

attempting to drive them away. A musket was immediately fired over his

head, to make him desist, which had the desired effect, and refreshments

were soon after purchased as usual. In the afternoon, Terreeoboo

arrived, and visited the ships in a private manner, attended only by one

canoe, in which were his wife and children. He staid on board till near

ten o’clock, when he returned to the village of Kowrowa.

The next day, about noon, the king, in a large canoe, attended by two

others, set out from the village, and paddled toward the ships in great

state. Their appearance was grand and magnificent. In the first canoe

was Terreeoboo and his chiefs, dressed in their rich feathered cloaks

and helmets, and armed with long spears and daggers; in the second came

the venerable Kaoo, the chief of the priests, and his brethren, with

their idols displayed on red cloth. These idols were busts of a gigantic

size, made of wicker-work, and curiously covered with small feathers of

various colours, wrought in the same manner with their cloaks. Their

eyes were made of large pearl oysters, with a black nut fixed in the

centre; their mouths were set with a double row of the fangs of dogs,

and, together with the rest of their features, were strangely distorted.

The third canoe was filled with hogs and various sorts of vegetables. As

they went along, the priests in the centre canoe sung their hymns with

great solemnity; and after paddling round the ships, instead of going on

board, as was expected, they made toward the shore at the beach where we

were stationed.

As soon as I saw them approaching, I ordered out our little guard to

receive the king; and Captain Cook, perceiving that he was going on

shore, followed him, and arrived nearly at the same time. We conducted

them into the tent, where they had scarcely been seated, when the king

rose up, and in a very graceful manner threw over the Captain’s

shoulders the cloak he himself wore, put a feathered helmet on his head,

and a curious fan into his hand. He also spread at his feet five or six

other cloaks, all exceedingly beautiful, and of the greatest value. His

attendants then brought four very large hogs, with sugar-canes,

cocoa-nuts, and bread-fruit; and this part of the ceremony was concluded

by the king’s exchanging names with Captain Cook, which amongst all the

islanders of the Pacific Ocean, is esteemed the strongest pledge of

friendship. A procession of priests, with a venerable old personage at

their head, now appeared, followed by a long train of men leading large

hogs, and others carrying plantains, sweet potatoes, &c. By the looks

and gestures of Kaireekeea, I immediately knew the old man to be the

chief of the priests before mentioned, on whose bounty we had so long

subsisted. He had a piece of red cloth in his hands, which he wrapped

round Captain Cook’s shoulders, and afterward presented him with a small

pig in the usual form. A seat was then made for him, next to the king,

after which, Kaireekeea and his followers began their ceremonies, Kaoo

and the chiefs joining in the responses.

I was surprised to see, in the person of this king, the same infirm and

emaciated old man, that came on board the Resolution when we were off

the north-east side of the island of Mowee; and we soon discovered

amongst his attendants most of the persons who at that time had remained

with us all night. Of this number were the two younger sons of the king,

the eldest of whom was sixteen years of age, and his nephew Maiha-Maiha,

whom at first we had some difficulty in recollecting, his hair being

plastered over with a dirty brown paste and powder, which was no mean

heightening to the most savage face I ever beheld.

As soon as the formalities of the meeting were over, Captain Cook

carried Terreeoboo, and as many chiefs as the pinnace could hold, on

board the Resolution. They were received with every mark of respect that

could be shown them; and Captain Cook, in return for the feathered

cloak, put a linen shirt on the king, and girt his own hanger round him.

The ancient Kaoo, and about half a dozen more old chiefs, remained on

shore, and took up their abode at the priests’ houses. During all this

time, not a canoe was seen in the bay, and the natives either kept

within their huts, or lay prostrate on the ground. Before the king left

the Resolution, Captain Cook obtained leave for the natives to come and

trade with the ships as usual; but the women, for what reason we could

not learn, still continued under the effects of the _taboo_; that is,

were forbidden to stir from home, or to have any communication with us.

CHAP. II.

FARTHER ACCOUNT OF TRANSACTIONS WITH THE NATIVES.—THEIR HOSPITALITY.—

PROPENSITY TO THEFT.—DESCRIPTION OF A BOXING MATCH.—DEATH OF ONE OF

OUR SEAMEN.—BEHAVIOUR OF THE PRIESTS AT HIS FUNERAL.—THE WOOD WORK AND

IMAGES ON THE MORAI PURCHASED.—THE NATIVES INQUISITIVE ABOUT OUR

DEPARTURE.—THEIR OPINION ABOUT THE DESIGN OF OUR VOYAGE.—MAGNIFICENT

PRESENTS OF TERREEOBOO TO CAPTAIN COOK.—THE SHIPS LEAVE THE ISLAND.—

THE RESOLUTION DAMAGED IN A GALE, AND OBLIGED TO RETURN.

The quiet and inoffensive behaviour of the natives having taken away

every apprehension of danger, we did not hesitate to trust ourselves

amongst them at all times, and in all situations. The officers of both

ships went daily up the country in small parties, or even singly, and

frequently remained out the whole night. It would be endless to recount

all the instances of kindness and civility which we received upon those

occasions. Wherever we went, the people flocked about us, eager to offer

every assistance in their power, and highly gratified if their services

were accepted. Various little arts were practised to attract our notice,

or to delay our departure. The boys and girls ran before, as we walked

through their villages, and stopped us at every opening, where there was

room to form a group for dancing. At one time, we were invited to accept

a draught of cocoa-nut milk, or some other refreshment, under the shade

of their huts; at another, we were seated within a circle of young

women, who exerted all their skill and agility to amuse us with songs

and dances.

The satisfaction we derived from their gentleness and hospitality, was,

however, frequently interrupted by that propensity to stealing, which

they have in common with all the other islanders of these seas. This

circumstance was the more distressing, as it sometimes obliged us to

have recourse to acts of severity, which we should willingly have

avoided, if the necessity of the case had not absolutely called for

them. Some of their most expert swimmers were one day discovered under

the ships, drawing out the filling nails of the sheathing, which they

performed very dexterously by means of a short stick, with a flint stone

fixed in the end of it. To put a stop to this practice, which endangered

the very existence of the vessels, we at first fired small shot at the

offenders; but they easily got out of our reach by diving under the

ship’s bottom. It was therefore found necessary to make an example, by

flogging one of them on board the Discovery.

About this time, a large party of gentlemen, from both ships, set out on

an excursion into the interior parts of the country, with a view of

examining its natural productions. An account of this journey will be

given in a subsequent part of our narrative. It is, therefore, only

necessary at present to observe, that it afforded Kaoo a fresh

opportunity of showing his attention and generosity. For as soon as he

was informed of their departure, he sent a large supply of provisions

after them, together with orders, that the inhabitants of the country

through which they were to pass, should give them every assistance in

their power. And, to complete the delicacy and disinterestedness of his

conduct, even the people he employed could not be prevailed on to accept

the smallest present. After remaining out six days, our officers

returned, without having been able to penetrate above twenty miles into

the island; partly from want of proper guides, and partly from the

impracticability of the country.

The head of the Resolution’s rudder being found exceedingly shaken, and

most of the pintles either loose or broken, it was unhung, and sent on

shore, on the 27th in the morning, to undergo a thorough repair. At the

same time, the carpenters were sent into the country, under conduct of

some of Kaoo’s people, to cut planks for the head rail work, which was

also entirely decayed and rotten.

On the 28th, Captain Clerke, whose ill health confined him, for the most

part, on board, paid Terreeoboo his first visit, at his hut on shore. He

was received with the same formalities as were observed with Captain

Cook; and, on his coming away, though the visit was quite unexpected, he

received a present of thirty large hogs, and as much fruit and roots as

his crew could consume in a week.

As we had not yet seen any thing of their sports or athletic exercises,

the natives, at the request of some of our officers, entertained us this

evening with a boxing-match. Though these games were much inferior, as

well in point of solemnity and magnificence, as in the skill and powers

of the combatants, to what we had seen exhibited at the Friendly

Islands; yet, as they differed in some particulars, it may not be

improper to give a short account of them. We found a vast concourse of

people assembled on a level spot of ground, at a little distance from

our tents. A long space was left vacant in the midst of them, at the

upper end of which sat the judges, under three standards, from which

hung slips of cloth of various colours, the skins of two wild geese, a

few small birds, and bunches of feathers. When the sports were ready to

begin, the signal was given by the judges, and immediately two

combatants appeared. They came forward slowly, lifting up their feet

very high behind, and drawing their hands along the soles. As they

approached, they frequently eyed each other from head to foot, in a

contemptuous manner, casting several arch looks at the spectators,

straining their muscles, and using a variety of affected gestures. Being

advanced within reach of each other, they stood with both arms held out

straight before their faces, at which part all their blows were aimed.

They struck, in what appeared to our eyes an awkward manner, with a full

swing of the arm; made no attempt to parry, but eluded their adversary’s

attack by an inclination of the body, or by retreating. The battle was

quickly decided; for if either of them was knocked down, or even fell by

accident, he was considered as vanquished, and the victor expressed his

triumph by a variety of gestures, which usually excited, as was

intended, a loud laugh among the spectators. He then waited for a second

antagonist; and if again victorious, for a third, till he was, at last,

in his turn defeated. A singular rule observed in these combats is, that

whilst any two are preparing to fight, a third person may step in, and

choose either of them for his antagonist, when the other is obliged to

withdraw. Sometimes three or four followed each other in this manner,

before the match was settled. When the combat proved longer than usual,

or appeared too unequal, one of the chiefs generally stepped in, and

ended it by putting a stick between the combatants. The same good humour

was preserved throughout, which we before so much admired in the

Friendly Islanders. As these games were given at our desire, we found it

was universally expected, that we should have borne our part in them;

but our people, though much pressed by the natives, turned a deaf ear to

their challenge, remembering full well the blows they got at the

Friendly Islands.

This day died William Watman, a seaman of the gunner’s crew; an event

which I mention the more particularly, as death had hitherto been very

rare amongst us. He was an old man, and much respected on account of his

attachment to Captain Cook. He had formerly served as a marine

twenty-one years; after which he entered as a seaman on board the

Resolution in 1772, and served with Captain Cook in his voyage toward

the South Pole. At their return, he was admitted into Greenwich

hospital, through the Captain’s interest, at the same time with himself;

and being resolved to follow throughout the fortunes of his benefactor,

he also quitted it along with him, on his being appointed to the command

of the present expedition. During the voyage, he had frequently been

subject to slight fevers, and was a convalescent when we came into the

bay, where, being sent on shore for a few days, he conceived himself

perfectly recovered, and, at his own desire, returned on board; but the

day following, he had a paralytic stroke, which in two days more carried

him off.

At the request of the king of the island, he was buried on the _Morai_,

and the ceremony was performed with as much solemnity as our situation

permitted. Old Kaoo and his brethren were spectators, and preserved the

most profound silence and attention, whilst the service was reading.

When we began to fill up the grave, they approached it with great

reverence, threw in a dead pig, some cocoa-nuts, and plantains; and, for

three nights afterward, they surrounded it, sacrificing hogs, and

performing their usual ceremonies of hymns and prayers, which continued

till day-break.

At the head of the grave, we erected a post, and nailed upon it a square

piece of board, on which was inscribed the name of the deceased, his

age, and the day of his death. This they promised not to remove; and we

have no doubt, but that it will be suffered to remain, as long as the

frail materials of which it is made will permit.

The ships being in great want of fuel, the Captain desired me, on the 2d

of February, to treat with the priests, for the purchase of the rail

that surrounded the top of the _Morai_. I must confess I had, at first,

some doubt about the decency of this proposal, and was apprehensive,

that even the bare mention of it might be considered by them as a piece

of shocking impiety. In this, however, I found myself mistaken. Not the

smallest surprize was expressed at the application, and the wood was

readily given, even without stipulating for any thing in return. Whilst

the sailors were taking it away, I observed one of them carrying off a

carved image; and, on further inquiry, I found that they had conveyed to

the boats the whole[6] semicircle. Though this was done in the presence

of the natives, who had not shown any mark of resentment at it, but had

even assisted them in the removal, I thought it proper to speak to Kaoo

on the subject; who appeared very indifferent about the matter, and only

desired that we would restore the centre image I have mentioned before,

which he carried into one of the priest’s houses.

Terreeoboo, and his chiefs, had, for some days past, been very

inquisitive about the time of our departure. This circumstance had

excited in me a great curiosity to know what opinion this people had

formed of us, and what were their ideas respecting the cause and objects

of our voyage. I took some pains to satisfy myself on these points; but

could never learn any thing farther, than that they imagined we came

from some country where provisions had failed; and that our visit to

them was merely for the purpose of filling our bellies. Indeed, the

meagre appearance of some of our crew, the hearty appetites with which

we sat down to their fresh provisions, and our great anxiety to purchase

and carry off as much as we were able, led them, naturally enough, to

such a conclusion. To these may be added, a circumstance which puzzled

them exceedingly, our having no women with us; together with our quiet

conduct, and unwarlike appearance. It was ridiculous enough to see them

stroking the sides, and patting the bellies of the sailors (who were

certainly much improved in the sleekness of their looks, during our

short stay in the island), and telling them, partly by signs, and partly

by words, that it was time for them to go; but if they would come again

the next bread-fruit season, they should be better able to supply their

wants. We had now been sixteen days in the bay; and if our enormous

consumption of hogs and vegetables be considered, it need not be

wondered, that they should wish to see us take our leave. It is very

probable, however, that Terreeoboo had no other view in his inquiries,

at present, than a desire of making sufficient preparation for

dismissing us with presents, suitable to the respect and kindness with

which he had received us. For, on our telling him we should leave the

island on the next day but one, we observed, that a sort of proclamation

was immediately made through the villages, to require the people to

bring in their hogs, and vegetables, for the king to present to the

_Orono_ on his departure.

We were this day much diverted, at the beach, by the buffooneries of one

of the natives. He held in his hand an instrument of the sort described

in the last volume[7]; some bits of sea-weed were tied round his neck;

and round each leg, a piece of strong netting, about nine inches deep,

on which a great number of dog’s teeth were loosely fastened in rows.

His style of dancing was entirely burlesque, and accompanied with

strange grimaces, and pantomimical distortions of the face; which,

though at times inexpressibly ridiculous, yet, on the whole, was without

much meaning, or expression. Mr. Webber thought it worth his while to

make a drawing of this person, as exhibiting a tolerable specimen of the

natives; the manner in which the _maro_ is tied; the figure of the

instrument before mentioned, and of the ornaments round the legs, which,

at other times, we also saw used by their dancers.

In the evening, we were again entertained with wrestling and boxing

matches; and we displayed, in return, the few fireworks we had left.

Nothing could be better calculated to excite the admiration of these

islanders, and to impress them with an idea of our great superiority,

than an exhibition of this kind. Captain Cook has already described the

extraordinary effects of that which was made at Hapaee; and though the

present was, in every respect, infinitely inferior, yet the astonishment

of the natives was not less.

I have before mentioned, that the carpenters from both ships had been

sent up the country to cut planks, for the head rail-work of the

Resolution. This was the third day since their departure; and having

received no intelligence from them, we began to be very anxious for

their safety. We were communicating our apprehensions to old Kaoo, who

appeared as much concerned as ourselves, and were concerting measures

with him for sending after them, when they arrived all safe. They had

been obliged to go farther into the country than was expected, before

they met with trees fit for their purpose; and it was this circumstance,

together with the badness of the roads, and the difficulty of bringing

back the timber, which had detained them so long. They spoke in high

terms of their guides, who both supplied them with provisions, and

guarded their tools with the utmost fidelity.

The next day being fixed for our departure, Terreeoboo invited Captain

Cook and myself to attend him, on the 3d, to the place where Kaoo

resided. On our arrival, we found the ground covered with parcels of

cloth; a vast quantity of red and yellow feathers, tied to the fibres of

cocoa-nut husks; and a great number of hatchets, and other pieces of

iron-ware, that had been got in barter from us. At a little distance

from these lay an immense quantity of vegetables, of every kind, and

near them was a large herd of hogs. At first, we imagined the whole to

be intended as a present for us, till Kaireekeea informed me, that it

was a gift, or tribute, from the people of that district to the king;

and, accordingly, as soon as we were seated, they brought all the

bundles, and laid them severally at Terreeoboo’s feet; spreading out the

cloth, and displaying the feathers and iron-ware before him. The king

seemed much pleased with this mark of their duty; and having selected

about a third part of the iron-ware, the same proportion of feathers,

and a few pieces of cloth, these were set aside by themselves; and the

remainder of the cloth, together with all the hogs and vegetables, were

afterward presented to Captain Cook, and myself. We were astonished at

the value and magnitude of this present, which far exceeded every thing

of the kind we had seen, either at the Friendly or Society Islands.

Boats were immediately sent, to carry them on board; the large hogs were

picked out, to be salted for sea-store; and upwards of thirty smaller

pigs, and the vegetables were divided between the two crews.

The same day, we quitted the _Morai_, and got the tents and astronomical

instruments on board. The charm of the _taboo_ was now removed; and we

had no sooner left the place, than the natives rushed in and searched

eagerly about, in expectation of finding something of value that we

might have left behind. As I happened to remain the last on shore, and

waited for the return of the boat, several came crowding about me, and

having made me sit down by them, began to lament our separation. It was,

indeed, not without difficulty I was able to quit them. And here, I

hope, I may be permitted to relate a trifling occurrence, in which I was

principally concerned. Having had the command of the party on shore,

during the whole time we were in the bay, I had an opportunity of

becoming better acquainted with the natives, and of being better known

to them, than those whose duty required them to be generally on board.

As I had every reason to be satisfied with their kindness in general, so

I cannot too often, nor too particularly, mention the unbounded and

constant friendship of their priests.

On my part, I spared no endeavours to conciliate their affections, and

gain their esteem; and I had the good fortune to succeed so far, that,

when the time of our departure was made known, I was strongly solicited

to remain behind, not without offers of the most flattering kind. When I

excused myself, by saying that Captain Cook would not give his consent,

they proposed, that I should retire into the mountains; where, they

said, they would conceal me, till after the departure of the ships; and,

on my farther assuring them, that the Captain would not leave the bay

without me, Terreeoboo and Kaoo waited upon Captain Cook, whose son they

supposed I was, with a formal request, that I might be left behind. The

Captain, to avoid giving a positive refusal to an offer so kindly

intended, told them, that he could not part with me at that time, but

that he should return to the island next year, and would then endeavour

to settle the matter to their satisfaction.

Early in the morning of the 4th, we unmoored, and sailed out of the bay,

with the Discovery in company, and were followed by a great number of

canoes. Captain Cook’s design was to finish the survey of Owhyhee,

before he visited the other islands, in hopes of meeting with a road

better sheltered than the bay we had just left; and in case of not

succeeding here, he purposed to take a view of the south-east part of

Mowee, where the natives informed us we should find an excellent

harbour.

We had calm weather all this and the following day, which made our

progress to the northward very slow. We were accompanied by a great

number of the natives in their canoes; and Terreeoboo gave a fresh proof

of his friendship to Captain Cook, by a large present of hogs and

vegetables, that was sent after him.

In the night of the 5th, having a light breeze off the land, we made

some way to the northward; and in the morning of the 6th, having passed

the westernmost point of the island, we found ourselves abreast of a

deep bay, called by the natives Toe-yah-yah. We had great hopes that

this bay would furnish us with a safe and commodious harbour, as we saw,

to the north-east, several fine streams of water; and the whole had the

appearance of being well sheltered. These observations agreeing with the

accounts given us by Koah, who accompanied Captain Cook, and had changed

his name, out of compliment to us, into Britannee, the pinnace was

hoisted out, and the master, with Britannee for his guide, was sent to

examine the bay, whilst the ships worked up after them.

In the afternoon, the weather became gloomy, and the gusts of wind that

blew off the land were so violent, as to make it necessary to take in

all the sails, and bring to, under the mizen stay-sail. All the canoes

left us at the beginning of the gale; and Mr. Bligh, on his return, had

the satisfaction of saving an old woman, and two men, whose canoe had

been overset by the violence of the wind, as they were endeavouring to

gain the shore. Besides these distressed people, we had a great many

women on board, whom the natives had left behind, in their hurry, to

shift for themselves.

The master reported to Captain Cook, that he had landed at the only

village he saw on the north side of the bay, where he was directed to

some wells of water, but found they would by no means answer our

purpose; that he afterward proceeded farther into the bay, which runs

inland to a great depth, and stretches toward the foot of a very

conspicuous high mountain, situated on the north-west end of the island;

but that instead of meeting with safe anchorage, as Britannee had taught

him to expect, he found the shores low and rocky, and a flat bed of

coral rocks running along the coast, and extending upward of a mile from

the land; on the outside of which, the depth of water was twenty

fathoms, over a sandy bottom; and that, in the mean time, Britannee had

contrived to slip away, being afraid of returning, as we imagined,

because his information had not proved true and successful.

In the evening, the weather being more moderate, we again made sail; but

about midnight it blew so violently, as to split both the fore and

main-topsails. On the morning of the 7th, we bent fresh sails, and had

fair weather, and a light breeze. At noon, the latitude, by observation,

was 20° 1ʹ north, the west point of the island bearing south, 7° east,

and the north-west point north, 38° east. As we were, at this time, four

or five leagues from the shore, and the weather very unsettled, none of

the canoes would venture out, so that our guests were obliged to remain

with us, much indeed to their dissatisfaction; for they were all

sea-sick, and many of them had left young children behind them.

In the afternoon, though the weather was still squally, we stood in for

the land, and being about three leagues from it, we saw a canoe, with

two men paddling toward us, which we immediately conjectured had been

driven off the shore by the late boisterous weather; and therefore

stopped the ship’s way, in order to take them in. These poor wretches

were so entirely exhausted with fatigue, that had not one of the natives

on board, observing their weakness, jumped into the canoe to their

assistance, they would scarcely have been able to fasten it to the rope

we had thrown out for that purpose. It was with difficulty we got them

up the ship’s side, together with a child, about four years old, which

they had lashed under the thwarts of the canoe, where it had lain with

only its head above water. They told us, they had left the shore the

morning before, and had been, from that time, without food or water. The

usual precautions were taken in giving them victuals, and the child

being committed to the care of one of the women, we found them all next

morning perfectly recovered.

At midnight, a gale of wind came on, which obliged us to double reef the

topsails, and get down the top-gallant yards. On the 8th, at day-break,

we found, that the foremast had again given way, the fishes which were

put on the head, in King George’s or Nootka Sound, on the coast of

America, being sprung, and the parts so very defective, as to make it

absolutely necessary to replace them, and, of course, to unstep the

mast. In this difficulty, Captain Cook was for some time in doubt,

whether he should run the chance of meeting with a harbour in the

islands to leeward, or return to Karakakooa. That bay was not so

remarkably commodious, in any respect, but that a better might probably

be expected, both for the purpose of repairing the masts, and for

procuring refreshments, of which, it was imagined, that the

neighbourhood of Karakakooa had been already pretty well drained. On the

other hand, it was considered as too great a risk to leave a place that

was tolerably sheltered, and which, once left, could not be regained,

for the mere hopes of meeting with a better; the failure of which might

perhaps have left us without resource.

We therefore continued standing on toward the land, in order to give the

natives an opportunity of releasing their friends on board from their

confinement; and, at noon, being within a mile of the shore, a few

canoes came off to us, but so crowded with people, that there was not

room in them for any of our guests; we therefore hoisted out the pinnace

to carry them on shore; and the master, who went with them, had

directions to examine the south coasts of the bay for water; but

returned without finding any.

The winds being variable, and a current setting strong to the northward,

we made but little progress in our return; and at eight o’clock in the

evening of the 9th, it began to blow very hard from the south-east,

which obliged us to close reef the topsails; and at two in the morning

of the 10th, in a heavy squall, we found ourselves close in with the

breakers, that lie to the northward of the west point of Owhyhee. We had

just room to haul off, and avoid them, and fired several guns to apprize

the Discovery of the danger.

In the forenoon, the weather was more moderate, and a few canoes came

off to us, from which we learnt, that the late storms had done much

mischief; and that several large canoes had been lost. During the

remainder of the day we kept beating to windward, and, before night, we

were within a mile of the bay; but not choosing to run on, while it was

dark, we stood off and on till day-light next morning, when we dropt

anchor nearly in the same place as before.

CHAP. III.

SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR OF THE NATIVES, ON OUR RETURN TO KARAKAKOOA BAY.—

THEFT ON BOARD THE DISCOVERY, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.—THE PINNACE

ATTACKED, AND THE CREW OBLIGED TO QUIT HER.—CAPTAIN COOK’S

OBSERVATIONS ON THE OCCASION.—ATTEMPT AT THE OBSERVATORY.—THE CUTTER

OF THE DISCOVERY STOLEN.—MEASURES TAKEN BY CAPTAIN COOK FOR ITS

RECOVERY.—GOES ON SHORE, TO INVITE THE KING ON BOARD.—THE KING, BEING

STOPPED BY HIS WIFE AND THE CHIEFS, A CONTEST ARISES.—NEWS ARRIVE OF

ONE OF THE CHIEFS BEING KILLED BY ONE OF OUR PEOPLE.—FERMENT ON THIS

OCCASION.—ONE OF THE CHIEFS THREATENS CAPTAIN COOK, AND IS SHOT BY

HIM.—GENERAL ATTACK BY THE NATIVES.—DEATH OF CAPTAIN COOK.—ACCOUNT OF

THE CAPTAIN’S SERVICES, AND A SKETCH OF HIS CHARACTER.

We were employed the whole of the 11th and part of the 12th, in getting

out the foremast, and sending it with the carpenters, on shore. Besides

the damage which the head of the mast had sustained, we found the heel

exceedingly rotten, having a large hole up the middle of it, capable of

holding four or five cocoa-nuts. It was not, however, thought necessary

to shorten it; and fortunately, the logs of red toa-wood, which had been

cut at Eimeo, for anchor-stocks, were found fit to replace the sprung

parts of the fishes. As these repairs were likely to take up several

days, Mr. Bayly and myself got the astronomical apparatus on shore, and

pitched our tents on the _Morai_; having with us a guard of a corporal

and six marines. We renewed our friendly correspondence with the

priests, who, for the greater security of the workmen, and their tools,

_tabooed_ the place where the mast lay, sticking their wands round it,

as before. The sail-makers were also sent on shore, to repair the

damages which had taken place in their department during the late gales.

They were lodged in a house adjoining to the _Morai_, that was lent us

by the priests. Such were our arrangements on shore. I shall now proceed

to the account of those other transactions with the natives, which led,

by degrees, to the fatal catastrophe of the 14th.

Upon coming to anchor, we were surprised to find our reception very

different from what it had been on our first arrival; no shouts, no

bustle, no confusion; but a solitary bay, with only here and there a

canoe stealing close along the shore. The impulse of curiosity, which

had before operated to so great a degree, might now indeed be supposed

to have ceased; but the hospitable treatment we had invariably met with,

and the friendly footing on which we parted, gave us some reason to

expect, that they would again have flocked about us with great joy, on

our return.

We were forming various conjectures upon the occasion of this

extraordinary appearance, when our anxiety was at length relieved by the

return of a boat, which had been sent on shore, and brought us word,

that Terreeoboo was absent, and had left the bay under the _taboo_.

Though this account appeared very satisfactory to most of us; yet others

were of opinion, or rather, perhaps, have been led, by subsequent

events, to imagine, that there was something at this time very

suspicious in the behaviour of the natives; and that the interdiction of

all intercourse with us, on pretence of the king’s absence, was only to

give him time to consult with his chiefs in what manner it might be

proper to treat us. Whether these suspicions were well founded, or the

account given by the natives was the truth, we were never able to

ascertain. For though it is not improbable that our sudden return, for

which they could see no apparent cause, and the necessity of which we

afterward found it very difficult to make them comprehend, might

occasion some alarm; yet the unsuspicious conduct of Terreeoboo, who, on

his supposed arrival, the next morning, came immediately to visit

Captain Cook, and the consequent return of the natives to their former

friendly intercourse with us, are strong proofs that they neither meant

nor apprehended any change of conduct.

In support of this opinion, I may add the account of another accident,

precisely of the same kind, which happened to us on our first visit, the

day before the arrival of the king. A native had sold a hog on board the

Resolution, and taken the price agreed on, when Pareea passing by,

advised the man not to part with the hog without an advanced price. For

this he was sharply spoken to, and pushed away; and the _taboo_ being

soon after laid on the bay, we had at first no doubt, but that it was in

consequence of the offence given to the chief. Both these accidents

serve to show how very difficult it is to draw any certain conclusion

from the actions of people, with whose customs, as well as language, we

are so imperfectly acquainted; at the same time, some idea may be formed

from them of the difficulties, at the first view, perhaps, not very

apparent, which those have to encounter, who, in all their transactions

with these strangers, have to steer their course amidst so much

uncertainty, where a trifling error may be attended with even the most

fatal consequences. However true or false our conjectures may be, things

went on in their usual quiet course, till the afternoon of the 13th.

Toward the evening of that day, the officer who commanded the

watering-party of the Discovery came to inform me, that several chiefs

had assembled at the well near the beach, driving away the natives whom

he had hired to assist the sailors in rolling down the casks to the

shore. He told me, at the same time, that he thought their behaviour

extremely suspicious, and that they meant to give him some farther

disturbance. At his request, therefore, I sent a marine along with him,

but suffered him to take only his side-arms. In a short time the officer

returned, and, on his acquainting me that the islanders had armed

themselves with stones and were growing very tumultuous, I went myself

to the spot, attended by a marine, with his musket. Seeing us approach,

they threw away their stones, and, on my speaking to some of the chiefs,

the mob were driven away, and those who chose it, were suffered to

assist in filling the casks. Having left things quiet here, I went to

meet Captain Cook, whom I saw coming on shore, in the pinnace. I related

to him what had just passed; and he ordered me, in case of their

beginning to throw stones, or behave insolently, immediately to fire a

ball at the offenders. I accordingly gave orders to the corporal, to

have the pieces of the sentinels loaded with ball, instead of small

shot.

Soon after our return to the tents, we were alarmed by a continued fire

of muskets from the Discovery, which we observed to be directed at a

canoe, that we saw paddling toward the shore in great haste, pursued by

one of our small boats. We immediately concluded, that the firing was in

consequence of some theft, and Captain Cook ordered me to follow him

with a marine armed, and to endeavour to seize the people as they came

on shore. Accordingly we ran toward the place where we supposed the

canoe would land, but were too late; the people having quitted it, and

made their escape into the country before our arrival.

We were at this time ignorant, that the goods had been already restored;

and as we thought it probable, from the circumstances we had at first

observed, that they might be of importance, were unwilling to relinquish

our hopes of recovering them. Having therefore inquired of the natives,

which way the people had fled, we followed them till it was near dark,

when judging ourselves to be about three miles from the tents, and

suspecting that the natives, who frequently encouraged us in the

pursuit, were amusing us with false information, we thought it in vain

to continue our search any longer, and returned to the beach.

During our absence, a difference of a more serious and unpleasant nature

had happened. The officer, who had been sent in the small boat, and was

returning on board with the goods which had been restored, observing

Captain Cook and me engaged in the pursuit of the offenders, thought it

his duty to seize the canoe, which was left drawn up on the shore.

Unfortunately, this canoe belonged to Pareea, who arriving, at the same

moment, from on board the Discovery, claimed his property, with many

protestations of his innocence. The officer refusing to give it up, and

being joined by the crew of the pinnace, which was waiting for Captain

Cook, a scuffle ensued, in which Pareea was knocked down by a violent

blow on the head with an oar. The natives, who were collected about the

spot, and had hitherto been peaceable spectators, immediately attacked

our people with such a shower of stones as forced them to retreat with

great precipitation, and swim off to a rock, at some distance from the

shore. The pinnace was immediately ransacked by the islanders; and, but

for the timely interposition of Pareea, who seemed to have recovered

from the blow, and forgot it at the same instant, would soon have been

entirely demolished. Having driven away the crowd, he made signs to our

people, that they might come and take possession of the pinnace, and

that he would endeavour to get back the things which had been taken out

of it. After their departure, he followed them in his canoe, with a

midshipman’s cap, and some other trifling articles of the plunder, and,

with much apparent concern at what had happened, asked, if the _Orono_

would kill him, and whether he would permit him to come on board the

next day? On being assured that he should be well received, he joined

noses (as their custom is) with the officers, in token of friendship,

and paddled over to the village of Kowrowa.

When Captain Cook was informed of what had passed, he expressed much

uneasiness at it, and as we were returning on board, “I am afraid,” said

he, “that these people will oblige me to use some violent measures;

for,” he added, “they must not be left to imagine that they have gained

an advantage over us.” However, as it was too late to take any steps

this evening, he contented himself with giving orders, that every man

and woman on board should be immediately turned out of the ship. As soon

as this order was executed I returned on shore; and our former

confidence in the natives being now much abated, by the events of the

day, I posted a double guard on the _Morai_, with orders to call me, if

they saw any men lurking about the beach. At about eleven o’clock, five

islanders were observed creeping round the bottom of the _Morai_; they

seemed very cautious in approaching us, and, at last, finding themselves

discovered, retired out of sight. About midnight, one of them venturing

up close to the observatory, the sentinel fired over him; on which the

men fled, and we passed the remainder of the night without farther

disturbance.

Next morning, at day-light, I went on board the Resolution for the

time-keeper, and, in my way, was hailed by the Discovery, and informed

that their cutter had been stolen during the night from the buoy where

it was moored.

When I arrived on board, I found the marines arming, and Captain Cook

loading his double-barrelled gun. Whilst I was relating to him what had

happened to us in the night, he interrupted me with some eagerness, and

acquainted me with the loss of the Discovery’s cutter, and with the

preparations he was making for its recovery. It had been his usual

practice, whenever any thing of consequence was lost at any of the

islands in this ocean, to get the king, or some of the principal

_Erees_, on board, and to keep them as hostages till it was restored.

This method, which had been always attended with success, he meant to

pursue on the present occasion; and, at the same time, had given orders

to stop all the canoes that should attempt to leave the bay, with an

intention of seizing and destroying them, if he could not recover the

cutter by peaceable means.

Accordingly the boats of both ships, well manned and armed, were

stationed across the bay; and, before I left the ship, some great guns

had been fired at two large canoes, that were attempting to make their

escape.

It was between seven and eight o’clock when we quitted the ship

together; Captain Cook in the pinnace, having Mr. Phillips and nine

marines with him; and myself in the small boat. The last orders I

received from him were, to quiet the minds of the natives, on our side

of the bay, by assuring them they should not be hurt; to keep my people

together; and to be on my guard. We then parted; the captain went toward

Kowrowa, where the king resided; and I proceeded to the beach. My first

care, on going ashore, was to give strict orders to the marines to

remain within their tent, to load their pieces with ball, and not to

quit their arms. Afterward I took a walk to the huts of old Kaoo, and

the priests, and explained to them, as well as I could, the object of

the hostile preparations, which had exceedingly alarmed them. I found,

that they had already heard of the cutter’s being stolen, and I assured

them, that though Captain Cook was resolved to recover it, and to punish

the authors of the theft, yet that they, and the people of the village

on our side, need not be under the smallest apprehension of suffering

any evil from us. I desired the priests to explain this to the people,

and to tell them not to be alarmed, but to continue peaceable and quiet.

Kaoo asked me, with great earnestness, if Terreeoboo was to be hurt? I

assured him, he was not; and both he and the rest of his brethren seemed

much satisfied with this assurance.

In the mean time, Captain Cook having called off the launch, which was

stationed at the north point of the bay, and taken it along with him,

proceeded to Kowrowa, and landed with the lieutenant and nine marines.

He immediately marched into the village, where he was received with the

usual marks of respect; the people prostrating themselves before him,

and bringing their accustomed offerings of small hogs. Finding that

there was no suspicion of his design, his next step was to inquire for

Terreeoboo and the two boys, his sons, who had been his constant guests

on board the Resolution. In a short time, the boys returned along with

the natives, who had been sent in search of them, and immediately led

Captain Cook to the house where the king had slept. They found the old

man just awoke from sleep; and after a short conversation about the loss

of the cutter, from which Captain Cook was convinced that he was in no

wise privy to it, he invited him to return in the boat, and spend the

day on board the Resolution. To this proposal the king readily

consented, and immediately got up to accompany him.

Things were in this prosperous train, the two boys being already in the

pinnace, and the rest of the party having advanced near the water-side,

when an elderly woman called Kaneekabareea, the mother of the boys, and

one of the king’s favourite wives, came after him, and with many tears

and entreaties, besought him not to go on board. At the same time, two

chiefs who came along with her, laid hold of him, and insisting that he

should go no farther, forced him to sit down. The natives, who were

collecting in prodigious numbers along the shore, and had probably been

alarmed by the firing of the great guns, and the appearances of

hostility in the bay, began to throng round Captain Cook and their king.

In this situation, the lieutenant of marines observing that his men were

huddled close together in the crowd, and thus incapable of using their

arms, if any occasion should require it, proposed to the captain to draw

them up along the rocks, close to the water’s edge; and the crowd

readily making way for them to pass, they were drawn up in a line, at

the distance of about thirty yards from the place where the king was

sitting.

All this time the old king remained on the ground, with the strongest

marks of terror and dejection in his countenance. Captain Cook, not

willing to abandon the object for which he had come on shore, continuing

to urge him, in the most pressing manner, to proceed; whilst, on the

other hand, whenever the king appeared inclined to follow him, the

chiefs, who stood round him, interposed at first with prayers and

entreaties, but afterward, having recourse to force and violence,

insisted on his staying where he was. Captain Cook, therefore, finding

that the alarm had spread too generally, and that it was in vain to

think any longer of getting him off without bloodshed, at last gave up

the point; observing to Mr. Phillips, that it would be impossible to

compel him to go on board, without the risk of killing a great number of

the inhabitants.

Though the enterprise which had carried Captain Cook on shore had now

failed, and was abandoned, yet his person did not appear to have been in

the least danger, till an accident happened, which gave a fatal turn to

the affair. The boats which had been stationed across the bay, having

fired at some canoes that were attempting to get out, unfortunately had

killed a chief of the first rank. The news of his death arrived at the

village where Captain Cook was, just as he had left the king, and was

walking slowly toward the shore. The ferment it occasioned was very

conspicuous; the women and children were immediately sent off; and the

men put on their war-mats, and armed themselves with spears and stones.

One of the natives, having in his hands a stone, and a long iron spike

(which they call a _pahooa_), came up to the Captain, flourishing his

weapon, by way of defiance, and threatening to throw the stone. The

Captain desired him to desist; but the man persisting in his insolence,

he was at length provoked to fire a load of small-shot. The man having

his mat on, which the shot were not able to penetrate, this had no other

effect than to irritate and encourage them. Several stones were thrown

at the marines; and one of the _Erees_ attempted to stab Mr. Phillips

with his _pahooa_, but failed in the attempt, and received from him a

blow with the butt end of his musket. Captain Cook now fired his second

barrel, loaded with ball, and killed one of the foremost of the natives.

A general attack with stones immediately followed, which was answered by

a discharge of musketry from the marines, and the people in the boats.

The islanders, contrary to the expectations of every one, stood the fire

with great firmness; and before the marines had time to re-load, they

broke in upon them with dreadful shouts and yells. What followed was a

scene of the utmost horror and confusion.

Four of the marines were cut off amongst the rocks in their retreat, and

fell a sacrifice to the fury of the enemy; three more were dangerously

wounded; and the Lieutenant, who had received a stab between the

shoulders with a _pahooa_, having fortunately reserved his fire, shot

the man who had wounded him just as he was going to repeat his blow. Our

unfortunate Commander, the last time he was seen distinctly, was

standing at the water’s edge, and calling out to the boats to cease

firing, and to pull in. If it be true, as some of those who were present

have imagined, that the marines and boat-men had fired without his

orders, and that he was desirous of preventing any further bloodshed, it

is not improbable that his humanity, on this occasion, proved fatal to

him. For it was remarked, that whilst he faced the natives, none of them

had offered him any violence, but that having turned about, to give his

orders to the boats, he was stabbed in the back, and fell with his face

into the water. On seeing him fall, the islanders set up a great shout,

and his body was immediately dragged on shore, and surrounded by the

enemy, who snatching the daggers out of each other’s hands, shewed a

savage eagerness to have a share in his destruction.

Thus fell our great and excellent Commander! After a life of so much

distinguished and successful enterprise, his death, as far as regards

himself, cannot be reckoned premature; since he lived to finish the

great work for which he seems to have been designed; and was rather

removed from the enjoyment, than cut off from the acquisition of glory.

How sincerely his loss was felt and lamented by those who had so long

found their general security in his skill and conduct, and every

consolation, under their hardships, in his tenderness and humanity, it

is neither necessary nor possible for me to describe; much less shall I

attempt to paint the horror with which we were struck, and the universal

dejection and dismay which followed so dreadful and unexpected a

calamity. The reader will not be displeased to turn from so sad a scene,

to the contemplation of his character and virtues, whilst I am paying my

last tribute to the memory of a dear and honoured friend, in a short

history of his life, and public services.

Captain James Cook was born near Whitby, in Yorkshire, in the year 1727;

and, at an early age, was put apprentice to a shopkeeper in a

neighbouring village. His natural inclination not having been consulted

on this occasion, he soon quitted the counter from disgust, and bound

himself, for nine years, to the master of a vessel in the coal trade. At

the breaking out of the war in 1755, he entered into the king’s service

on board the Eagle, at that time commanded by Captain Hamer, and

afterward by Sir Hugh Palliser, who soon discovered his merit, and

introduced him on the quarter-deck.

In the year 1758, we find him master of the Northumberland, the

flag-ship of Lord Colville, who had then the command of the squadron

stationed on the coast of America. It was here, as I have often heard

him say, that, during a hard winter, he first read Euclid, and applied

himself to the study of mathematics and astronomy, without any other

assistance, than what a few books and his own industry afforded him. At

the same time that he thus found means to cultivate and improve his mind

and to supply the deficiencies of an early education, he was engaged in

most of the busy and active scenes of the war in America. At the siege

of Quebec, Sir Charles Saunders committed to his charge the execution of

services of the first importance in the naval department. He piloted the

boats to the attack of Montmorency; conducted the embarkation to the

Heights of Abraham; examined the passage, and laid buoys for the

security of the large ships in proceeding up the river. The courage and

address with which he acquitted himself in these services, gained him

the warm friendship of Sir Charles Saunders and Lord Colville, who

continued to patronize him during the rest of their lives with the

greatest zeal and affection. At the conclusion of the war, he was

appointed, through the recommendation of Lord Colville and Sir Hugh

Palliser, to survey the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the coasts of

Newfoundland. In this employment he continued till the year 1767, when

he was fixed on by Sir Edward Hawke, to command an expedition to the

South Seas; for the purpose of observing the transit of _Venus_, and

prosecuting discoveries in that part of the globe.

From this period, as his services are too well known to require a

recital here, so his reputation has proportionably advanced to a height

too great to be affected by my panegyric. Indeed, he appears to have

been most eminently and peculiarly qualified for this species of

enterprize. The earliest habits of his life, the course of his services,

and the constant application of his mind, all conspired to fit him for

it, and gave him a degree of professional knowledge, which can fall to

the lot of very few.

The constitution of his body was robust, inured to labour, and capable

of undergoing the severest hardships. His stomach bore, without

difficulty, the coarsest and most ungrateful food. Indeed, temperance in

him was scarcely a virtue; so great was the indifference with which he

submitted to every kind of self-denial. The qualities of his mind were

of the same hardy, vigorous kind with those of his body. His

understanding was strong and perspicacious. His judgment, in whatever

related to the services he was engaged in, quick and sure. His designs

were bold and manly; and both in the conception, and in the mode of

execution, bore evident marks of a great original genius. His courage

was cool and determined, and accompanied with an admirable presence of

mind in the moment of danger. His manners were plain and unaffected. His

temper might perhaps have been justly blamed as subject to hastiness and

passion had not these been disarmed by a disposition the most benevolent

and humane.

Such were the outlines of Captain Cook’s character; but its most

distinguishing feature was that unremitting perseverance in the pursuit

of his object, which was not only superior to the opposition of dangers,

and the pressure of hardships, but even exempt from the want of ordinary

relaxation. During the long and tedious voyages in which he was engaged,

his eagerness and activity were never in the least abated. No incidental

temptation could detain him for a moment; even those intervals of

recreation, which sometimes unavoidably occurred, and were looked for by

us with a longing, that persons who have experienced the fatigues of

service will readily excuse, were submitted to by him with a certain

impatience, whenever they could not be employed in making further

provision for the more effectual prosecution of his designs.

It is not necessary, here, to enumerate the instances in which these

qualities were displayed, during the great and important enterprizes in

which he was engaged. I shall content myself with stating the result of

those services, under the two principal heads to which they may be

referred, those of geography and navigation, placing each in a separate

and distinct point of view.

Perhaps no science ever received greater additions from the labour of a

single man, than geography has done from those of Captain Cook. In his

first voyage to the South Seas, he discovered the Society Islands;

determined the insularity of New Zealand; discovered the straits which

separate the two islands, and are called after his name; and made a

complete survey of both. He afterward explored the eastern coast of New

Holland, hitherto unknown; an extent of twenty-seven degrees of

latitude, or upward of two thousand miles.

In his second expedition, he resolved the great problem of a southern

continent; having traversed that hemisphere between the latitudes of 40°

and 70°, in such a manner as not to leave a possibility of its

existence, unless near the pole, and out of the reach of navigation.

During this voyage he discovered New Caledonia, the largest island in

the Southern Pacific, except New Zealand; the island of Georgia; and an

unknown coast, which he named Sandwich Land, the _thule_ of the Southern

hemisphere; and having twice visited the tropical seas, he settled the

situations of the old, and made several new discoveries.

But the voyage we are now relating is distinguished above all the rest

by the extent and importance of its discoveries. Besides several smaller

islands in the Southern Pacific, he discovered, to the north of the

equinoctial line, the group called the Sandwich Islands; which, from

their situation and productions, bid fairer for becoming an object of

consequence, in the system of European navigation, than any other

discovery in the South Sea. He afterward explored what had hitherto

remained unknown of the western coast of America, from the latitude of

43° to 70° north, containing an extent of three thousand five hundred

miles; ascertained the proximity of the two great continents of Asia and

America; passed the straits between them, and surveyed the coast, on

each side, to such a height of northern latitude, as to demonstrate the

impracticability of a passage in that hemisphere, from the Atlantic into

the Pacific Ocean, either by an eastern or a western course. In short,

if we except the sea of Amur, and the Japanese Archipelago, which still

remain imperfectly known to Europeans, he has completed the hydrography

of the habitable globe.

As a navigator, his services were not perhaps less splendid; certainly

not less important and meritorious. The method which he discovered, and

so successfully pursued of preserving the health of seamen, forms a new

æra in navigation, and will transmit his name to future ages amongst the

friends and benefactors of mankind.

Those who are conversant in naval history need not be told at how dear a

rate the advantages which have been sought through the medium of long

voyages at sea have always been purchased. That dreadful disorder which

is peculiar to this service, and whose ravages have marked the tracks of

discoverers with circumstances almost too shocking to relate, must,

without exercising an unwarrantable tyranny over the lives of our

seamen, have proved an insuperable obstacle to the prosecution of such

enterprizes. It was reserved for Captain Cook to show the world, by

repeated trials, that voyages might be protracted to the unusual length

of three or even four years, in unknown regions, and under every change

and rigour of climate, not only without affecting the health, but even

without diminishing the probability of life in the smallest degree. The

method he pursued has been fully explained by himself in a paper which

was read before the Royal Society, in the year 1776[8]; and whatever

improvements the experience of the present voyage has suggested, are

mentioned in their proper places.

With respect to his professional abilities, I shall leave them to the

judgment of those who are best acquainted with the nature of the

services in which he was engaged. They will readily acknowledge, that to

have conducted three expeditions of so much danger and difficulty, of so

unusual a length, and in such a variety of situation, with uniform and

invariable success, must have required not only a thorough and accurate

knowledge of his business, but a powerful and comprehensive genius,

fruitful in resources, and equally ready in the application of whatever

the higher and inferior calls of the service required.

Having given the most faithful account I have been able to collect, both

from my own observation, and the relations of others, of the death of my

ever-honoured friend, and also of his character and services; I shall

now leave his memory to the gratitude and admiration of posterity;

accepting, with a melancholy satisfaction, the honour, which the loss of

him hath procured me, of seeing my name joined with his; and of

testifying that affection and respect for his memory, which, whilst he

lived, it was no less my inclination, than my constant study, to show

him.

CHAP. IV.

TRANSACTIONS AT OWHYHEE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN COOK.—GALLANT

BEHAVIOUR OF THE LIEUTENANT OF MARINES.—DANGEROUS SITUATION OF THE

PARTY AT THE MORAI.—BRAVERY OF ONE OF THE NATIVES.—CONSULTATION

RESPECTING FUTURE MEASURES.—DEMAND OF THE BODY OF CAPTAIN COOK.—

EVASIVE AND INSIDIOUS CONDUCT OF KOAH, AND THE CHIEFS.—INSOLENT

BEHAVIOUR OF THE NATIVES.—PROMOTION OF OFFICERS.—ARRIVAL OF TWO

PRIESTS WITH PART OF THE BODY.—EXTRAORDINARY BEHAVIOUR OF TWO BOYS.—

BURNING OF THE VILLAGE OF KAKOOA.—UNFORTUNATE DESTRUCTION OF THE

DWELLINGS OF THE PRIESTS.—RECOVERY OF THE BONES OF CAPTAIN COOK.—

DEPARTURE FROM KARAKAKOOA BAY.

It has been already related that four of the marines who attended

Captain Cook were killed by the islanders on the spot. The rest, with

Mr. Philips, their lieutenant, threw themselves into the water, and

escaped, under cover of a smart fire from the boats. On this occasion, a

remarkable instance of gallant behaviour, and of affection for his men,

was shown by that officer. For he had scarcely got into the boat, when,

seeing one of the marines, who was a bad swimmer, struggling in the

water, and in danger of being taken by the enemy, he immediately jumped

into the sea to his assistance, though much wounded himself; and after

receiving a blow on the head from a stone, which had nearly sent him to

the bottom, he caught the man by the hair, and brought him safe off.

Our people continued for some time to keep up a constant fire from the

boats (which, during the whole transaction, were not more than twenty

yards from the land), in order to afford their unfortunate companions,

if any of them should still remain alive, an opportunity of escaping.

These efforts, seconded by a few guns, that were fired at the same time,

from the Resolution, having forced the natives at last to retire, a

small boat, manned by five of our young midshipmen, pulled toward the

shore, where they saw the bodies, without any signs of life, lying on

the ground; but judging it dangerous to attempt to bring them off, with

so small a force, and their ammunition being nearly expended, they

returned to the ships, leaving them in possession of the islanders,

together with ten stands of arms.

As soon as the general consternation, which the news of this calamity

occasioned throughout both crews, had a little subsided, their attention

was called to our party at the _Morai_, where the mast and sails were on

shore, with a guard of only six marines. It is impossible for me to

describe the emotions of my own mind, during the time these transactions

had been carrying on at the other side of the bay. Being at the distance

only of a short mile from the village of Kowrowa, we could see

distinctly an immense crowd collected on the spot where Captain Cook had

just before landed. We heard the firing of the musketry, and could

perceive some extraordinary bustle and agitation in the multitude. We

afterward saw the natives flying, the boats retire from the shore, and

passing and repassing, in great stillness, between the ships. I must

confess that my heart soon misgave me. Where a life so dear and valuable

was concerned, it was impossible not to be alarmed, by appearances both

new and threatening. But, besides this, I knew that a long and

uninterrupted course of success, in his transactions with the natives of

these seas, had given the Captain a degree of confidence, that I was

always fearful might, at some unlucky moment, put him too much off his

guard; and I now saw all the dangers to which that confidence might

lead, without receiving much consolation from considering the experience

that had given rise to it.

My first care, on hearing the muskets fired, was, to assure the people,

who were assembled in considerable numbers round the wall of our

consecrated field, and seemed equally at a loss with ourselves how to

account for what they had seen and heard, that they should not be

molested; and that, at all events, I was desirous of continuing on

peaceable terms with them. We remained in this posture, till the boats

had returned on board, when Captain Clerke, observing, through his

telescope, that we were surrounded by the natives, and apprehending they

meant to attack us, ordered two four pounders to be fired at them.

Fortunately these guns, though well aimed, did no mischief, and yet gave

the natives a convincing proof of their power. One of the balls broke a

cocoa-nut tree in the middle, under which a party of them were sitting;

and the other shivered a rock, that stood in an exact line with them. As

I had, just before, given them the strongest assurances of their safety,

I was exceedingly mortified at this act of hostility; and, to prevent a

repetition of it, immediately dispatched a boat to acquaint Captain

Clerke, that, at present, I was on the most friendly terms with the

natives; and that, if occasion should hereafter arise for altering my

conduct toward them, I would hoist a jack, as a signal for him to afford

us all the assistance in his power.

We expected the return of the boat with the utmost impatience; and after

remaining a quarter of an hour under the most torturing anxiety and

suspense, our fears were at length confirmed, by the arrival of Mr.

Bligh, with orders to strike the tents as quickly as possible, and to

send the sails, that were repairing, on board. Just at the same moment,

our friend Kaireekeea having also received intelligence of the death of

Captain Cook from a native, who had arrived from the other side of the

bay, came to me with great sorrow and dejection in his countenance, to

inquire if it was true?

Our situation was, at this time, extremely critical and important. Not

only our own lives, but the event of the expedition, and the return of

at least one of the ships, being involved in the same common danger. We

had the mast of the Resolution, and the greatest part of our sails, on

shore, under the protection of only six marines: their loss would have

been irreparable; and though the natives had not as yet shown the

smallest disposition to molest us, yet it was impossible to answer for

the alteration which the news of the transaction at Kowrowa might

produce. I therefore thought it prudent to dissemble my belief of the

death of Captain Cook, and to desire Kaireekeea to discourage the

report; lest either the fear of our resentment, or the successful

example of their countrymen, might lead them to seize the favourable

opportunity, which at this time offered itself of giving us a second

blow. At the same time I advised him to bring old Kaoo, and the rest of

the priests, into a large house that was close to the _Morai_; partly

out of regard to their safety, in case it should have been found

necessary to proceed to extremities; and partly to have him near us, in

order to make use of his authority with the people, if it could be

instrumental in preserving peace.

Having placed the marines on the top of the _Morai_, which formed a

strong and advantageous post, and left the command with Mr. Bligh,

giving him the most positive directions to act entirely on the

defensive, I went on board the Discovery, in order to represent to

Captain Clerke the dangerous situation of our affairs. As soon as I

quitted the spot, the natives began to annoy our people with stones; and

I had scarcely reached the ship, before I heard the firing of the

marines. I therefore returned instantly on shore, where I found things

growing every moment more alarming. The natives were arming, and putting

on their mats; and their numbers increased very fast. I could also

perceive several large bodies marching toward us, along the cliff which

separates the village of Kakooa from the north side of the bay, where

the village of Kowrowa is situated.