oaob« l^c fwam with great vigour, and refitted the attempts
jv-— i of our people to take him into the boat by every effort that
he could make t he was however at laft overpowered, and
the other two were taken up with lefs difficulty. I am con-
fcious that the feeling of every reader of humanity w ill cen-
fure me for having fired upon thefe unhappy people, and it
is impoffible that, upon a calm review, I lhould approve it
myfelf. They certainly did not deferve death for not chufing
to confide in my promifes; or not confenting to come on
board my boat, even if they had apprehended no danger;
but the nature of my fervice required me to obtain a know-
lege of their country, which I could no otherwife effect than
by forcing my way into it in a hoftile manner, or gaining
admiffion through the confidence and good-will of the people.
I had already tried the power of prefents without effect; and
1 was now prompted, by my defire to avoid further hoftili-
ties, to get fome of them on board, as the only method left
of convincing them that we intended them no harm, and
had it in our power to contribute to their gratification and
convenience. Thus far my intentions certainly were not criminal
; and though in the conteft, which I had not the leaft
reafon to expedt, our victory might have been complete without
fo great an expence of l ife ; yet in fuch fituations, when
the command to fire has been given, no man can reftrain its
excefs, or prefcribe its effedt.
As foon as the poor wretches whom we had taken out of
the water were in the boat, they fquatted down, expecting
no doubt inftantly to be put to death: we made hafte to convince
them of the contrary, by every method in our power;
we furnifhed them with clothes, and gave them every other
teftimony of kindnefs that could remove their fears and engage
their good-will. Thofe who are acquainted with human
nature will not wonder, that the fudden joy of thefe
young
young favages at being unexpedtedly delivered from the fear U**
of death, and kindly treated by thofe whom they fuppofed .^ v — -
would have been their inftant executioners, furmounted
their concern for the friends they had loft, and was ftrongly
expreffed in their countenances and behaviour. Before we
reached the ffiip, their fufpicions and fears being wholly
removed, they appeared to be not only reconciled to their
fituation but in high fpirits, and upon being offered fome
bread when they came on board, they devoured it with a
voracious appetite. They anfwered and alked many questions,
with great appearance of pleafure and curiolity; and
when our dinner came, they expreffed an inclination to tafte
every thing that they faw: they feemed beft pleafed with the
fait pork, though we had other provifions upon the table.
At fun-fet, they eat another meal with great eagernefs, each
devouring a large quantity of bread, and drinking above a
quart of water. We then made them beds upon the lockers,
and they went to fleep with great feeming content. In the
night, however, the tumult of their minds having fubfided,
and given way to refledlion, they fighed often and loud. Tu-
pia, who was always upon the watch to comfort them, got
up, and by Soothing and encouragement made them not
only eafy but cheerful; their cheerfulnefs was encouraged
fo that they lung a fong with a degree o f tafte that furprifed
u s : the tune was Solemn and flow, like thofe of our Pfalms,
containing many notes and femitones. Their countenances
were intelligent and expreffive, and the middlemoft, who
feemed to be about fifteen, had an opennefs in his afpedt,
and an eafe in his deportment which were very ftriking: we
found that the two eldeft were brothers, and that their
names were T a a h o u r a n g e and K o ik er an g e ; the name of
the youngeft was M a r a g o v e t e . As we were returning to
the Chip, after having taken thefe boys into the boat, we
Von. II. P p picked