Tongataboo or Tucopea; but, on his return to
Ko-ro-ra-di-ka, it was not only placing him,
but all of us, in a dreadful dilemma! His
tribe being at deadly enmity with that of
George, the moment he was seen on deck
(which was as soon as the vessel arrived),
George and all the men in the various canoes
appeared to grow outrageous: nothing would
convince them but that we were in league
with their enemies, and had brought this spy
into their territories from interested motives ;
and they seemed resolved upon boarding the
brig, and executing vengeance upon the unfortunate
victim. To all our remonstrances
George replied, “ Any other man than this
I would have pardoned; but it was only last
year he killed, and helped to eat, my own
uncle, whose death still remains unrevenged :
I cannot allow him to leave my country alive;
if I did, I should be despised for ever.”
I was greatly grieved at the circumstance ;
but, as I was somewhat of a favourite with
George, I succeeded in convincing him that
it arose purely from accident, and no intention
of giving him offence ; and he consented
to leave him on board, but cautioned
us not to allow him to land. “ If I see him
on shore he dies,” he repeated several times.
It would have been well for us had we attended
to this warning : we did not ; and
we accordingly infringed on the customs of
his country ; thus placing ourselves in a most
perilous situation with the natives, and plainly
showing that the imprudence of our countrymen
is invariably the cause of quarrels and
misunderstandings with these islanders.
Some days having passed since this altercation
with George, we thought no more
about it. The brig, from various causes, was
certain to remain some time in this harbour ;
and, as our New Zealand guest expressed a
great desire to go on shore one day, we consented
to his accompanying us. We had
scarcely entered our house, when we had
reason to repent the imprudent step we had
taken : all the natives were in commotion ;
messengers were sent off to George to acquaint
him with the circumstance, and soon
after we saw him, attended by all his relations,
accoutred for war ; that is, quite naked, their