■ 775- that the attack which the Taheitians made upon the Dol-
UGUST.
phin, took its origin from fome outrage unknowingly coiru
mitted by the Europeans ; and fuppofing it did not, if felf-
prefervation be one of the firft laws of nature,, furely from-
all appearances thefe people had a right to look, on our.
men as a fet of invaders, and what is more than all, to be
apprehenfive that even their liberty was at flake. - When,
after a fatal difplay of fuperior European force, they were
convinced that nothing farther than a fhort flay for refrelh,
ment was intended, that the ftrangers who came among
them were not- entirely- deftitude of humane and equitable
fentiments | in fhort, when they found that Britons were
■ not more favage than themfelves, they were ready to open
their arms to them, they-forgot that they had had a dif-,
ference, and bid them partake of each kindly production
of their ifle. They all exerted themfelves in acts of hofpi-
tality and teftimonies of friendfhip from the lowcft fubject
to the queen, that every one of their guefts might have
reafon to fay, he regretted his departure from this friendly
fhore:
Invitus, regina, tuo de litore ceifi 1 Virgil*
CHA P .
*773* -
A ugust.»
c h a p : ix .
Account of our t'ranfactions. at Matdvai Bty.
CAPTAIN Cook, in his voyage in the Endeavour, had ThmfJa> ac,
obferved that, in order to obtain a fufficient fupply
of refrefliments at Matava'i Bay, it was absolutely neccflary
to conciliate the favour , of the fovereign, unlefs peaceable .
meafures were entirely to be rejected, and the tragedies of
former times be repeated. With this view lie refolved to
begin his operations here in the morning, by going to the
province of O-Parre, where king O-Too. refided. He did
not, however, leave the fliip till- Maratata and his wife had
been on board agreeable to their promife. In return for
the prefents which- they had received the evening before,
they gave fome pieces- of .their belt cloth to the captain, and
Were very proud to be-admitted into the -great cabin, while
the reft of their countrymen were obliged to flay witho.ut.
As foon as Captain Furrieaux was come on board from the
Adventure, Captain Cook embarked in the pinnace with
him, accompanied .by DqCfor.Sparrman, my father, and
m-yfelf. Maratata, without any ceremony, likewife came
in with his wife' and immediately occupied the, belt place
in the flern. A croud of attendants followed them, till the
boat was fo full, that our people.found it impoffible to ply
T t a 'their