1774. cciTirv to infringe tbe co^ume, and to throw a drapery over
the fhoulder, though thefe people have no kind of cloathing.
They were cafily perfuaded to fit for their portraits, and
feemed to have an idea of the reprefentations.
We were deeply engaged in converfation with them, and
they feemed happy beyond meafure, when the firft lieutenant
came into the cabin. He acquainted captain Cook
that one of the natives having been denied admittance into
the fhip, which was by this time erouded with them, had
pointed his arrow at the failor in our boat, who pufhed
back his canoe. Before he had done fpeaking, our acute
natives gueffed his errand, and having before obferved the
windows open, one of them inftantly jumped out, and;
fwam to his outrageous countryman to hold his hands.
The captain went upon deck prefently, and took up a
mufket, which he pointed at the native, who perfifted in his
attitude in fpite of his fellows- Seeing that captain Cook
had levelled at him, he alfo pointed his arrows at him. At
this moment, the reft of the natives around the Ihip called*
to thofe in the cabin; thefe fearing the worft confequences
from the violence of their countryman, hurried out of the
windows, notwithftanding all our endeavours to quiet their
apprehenfions. We heard a mulket fired off the inftanb
after, and repairing on deck, faw the native who had received
fome fmall fhot, very deliberately laying by his.
arrow, which was only pointed with wood, and feledting:
one
one of thofe which we believed to be poifoned. As foon
as he had taken aim, the third lieutenant fired at him
again ; the fmall fhot which he received in his face,
obliged him to give up all thoughts of fighting, and he
paddled quickly towards the Ihore. At the fame moment
an arrow was fhot off from the other fide of the fir ip, which
fell in the mizen fhrouds. A ball was fired after the native
who fent it to us, but luckily without effect. Every
canoe now moved gradually towards the fhore, and all
who were on board flung themfelves into the fea; one in
particular, who was at the maft-head when the fray began,
not thinking of any harm, came down with the greateft
precipitation when the mufkets went off. To terrify thefe
people, and to give them a fpecimenof our power, a cannon
was fired over their heads among the trees on fhore. This
accelerated their retreat; the neareft to us jumped out of
their canoes in a fright, and all reached the fhore in great
confufion. Prefently their drums began to beat in different
parts, to give the alarm, and the poor fellows were feen
running along fhore, and huddling under the bullies together,
in clofe eonfulration on this alarming crifis of their
affairs. In the mean while we went quietly to breakfaft.
At nine o’clock fome canoes again made their appearance,
rowing round the fhip, and very cautioufly coming
nearer. We waved to them with a branch of tbe dracema
iicnninaHs, which we had before received; and after they had
E ,e 2 dipped
»774*
July.