traduced); and if it were not for the difficulty of clearing-
ground where potatoes had been once planted, there would
not have been any now remaining.
On the 16th, at day-break, I fet out with a party o f men,
in five boats, to colleft food for our cattle. Captain Clerke,
and feveral of the officers, Omai, and two of the natives,
accompanied me. We proceeded about three leagues up
the found, and then landed 011 the Eaft fide, at a place
where I had formerly been. Here we cut as much grais as
loaded the two launches.
As we returned down the found, we vilited Grafs Cove,
the memorable fcene of the Maflacre of Captain Furneaux’s
people. Here I met with my old friend Pedro, who was
almoft .continually with me the laft time I was in this found,
and is mentioned in my Hiftory of that Voyage *. He, and
another of his countrymen, received us on the beach,
armed with the pa-too and fpear. Whether this , form of
reception was a mark of their courtefy or of their fear, I
cannot fa y ; but I thought they betrayed manifeft figns of
the latter. However, if they had any apprehenfions, a few
prefents foon removed them, and brought down to the beach
two or three more of the family; but the greateft part of
them.remained out of fight.
Whilft we were at this place, our curiofity prompted us to
inquire into the circumftances attending the melancholy
fa-te of our countrymen; and Omai was made ufe of as our
interpreter for this purpofe. Pedro, and the reft of the natives
prefent, anfwered all the queftioris that were put to
them on the fubjeit, without referve, and like men who
are under no dread of puniffiment for a crime o f which
they are not guilty. For we already knew that none of
them had been concerned in the unhappy tranfadtion. They
told us, that while our people were fitting at dinner, fur-
rounded by feveral of the natives, fome of the latter ftole, or
fnatched from them, fome bread and fiffi, for which they
were beat. This being refented, a quarrel enfued, and two
New Zealanders were ihot dead, by the only two mufquets
that were fired. For before our people had time to discharge
a third, or to load again thofe that had been fired’,
the natives ruihed in upon them, overpowered them with
their numbers, and put them all to death. Pedro and his
companions, befides relating the hiftory of the maflacre,
made us acquainted with the very fpot that was the fcene of
it. It is at the corner of the cove on the right-hand- They
pointed to the place of the fun, to mark to us at what hour
of the day it happened ; and, according to this, it rnu'ft have
been late in the afternoon. They alfo (hewed us the place
where the boat lay; and it appeared to be about two hundred
yards diftant from that where the crew were feated.
One of their number, a black fervant of Captain Furneaux,
was left in the boat to take care of her.
We were afterward told that this black was the caufe of
the quarrel, which was faid to have happened thus: One of
the natives Healing fomething out of the boat, the Negro
gave him a fevere blow with a flick. The cries of the fellow
being heard by his countrymen at a diftance, they
imagined he was killed, and immediately began the attack
on our people; who, before they had time to reach the
boat, or to arm chem-felv.es againft the unexpected impending
danger, fell a facrifice to the fury of their favage aflail-
ants. . ,
The