time crowded with a great number of the natives, who brought with them cocoa
nuts, plantains, bananoes, apples, yams and other roots, which they exchanged
for nails and beads. To feveral, who called themfelves Chiefs, Captain Cook
made prefents of fhirts, axes, and feveral other articles, and in return, they
promifed to bring him hogs and fowls: a promife, however, which they never
intended to perform.
On the 18th the natives came off again with fruit, as the day before, but in
no great quantity. There was alfo a party o f the crew on ihore, trading under
the protection of a guard: but nothing was brought to market but fruit and
roots, though many hogs were feen about the houfes of the inhabitants. The
cry was, that they belonged to Waheatoua the Earee de hi, or King; and he had
not yet been feen, nor indeed any other Chief of note. Many, however, who
called themfelves Earees came on board, partly with a view of getting prefents,
and partly to pilfer whatever came in their way.
One of thefe fort of Earees was caught taking things which did not belong
to him, and handing them out of the quarter gallery. Many complaints of the
like nature were made to Captain Cook againft thofe on deck, which occafioned
his turning them all out of the ihip. The cabin gueft made good hafte to be
gone. The Captain was fo exafperated at his behaviour, having made feveral
prefents to him and his friends, who were not a few, that after he had got
fome diftance from the ihip, he fired two mufquets over his head, which made
him quit the canoe, and take to the water. He then fent a boat to take up the
canoe; but, as ihe came near the ihore, the people from thence began to pelt
the failors with ftones: being in fome pain for her fafety, as ihe was unarmed,
he went himfelf in another boat to proteCt her, and ordered a great gun loaded
with ball to be fired along the coaft, which made them all retire from the ihore j
and he was fuffered to bring away two canoes without the leaft oppofition: in
one of the canoes was a little boy, who was much frightened; but Captain
Cook foon diffipated his fears by giving him beads, and putting him on ihore.
A few hours after they were all good friends again; and the canoes were returned
to the firft perfon who came for them.
It was not till the evening of this day that any one inquired after Tupia, and
then but two or three. As ioon as they learnt the caufe of his death, they
were quite fatisfied. As little inquiry was made after Aotourou, the man who
went away with Moniieur Bougainville. But they were cpntinually aiking
after Mr. Banks, and feveral others, who were with Captain Cook in his
former voyage.
Thefe people informed him, thatToutaha, the Regent of the greater Penin-
ful'a of Otaheite, had been killed in a battle which was fought between the
two kingdoms, about five months before; and that Otoo was the reigning Prince.
Tubourai, Tamaide, and feveral more of the principal friends of the Engliih,
about Matavia, fell in this battle; as did alfo a great number of the common
people: but, at prefent, a peace fubfifted between the two kingdoms.
In an excurfion which Captain Cook, accompanied by Captain Furneaux,
made along the coaft, they met with a Chief, who entertained -them with excellent
fiih, fruit, &c. In return for this hofpitality, he made him a prefent
of an axe, and other things. The Chief, afterwards, accompanied them back
to the ihips, where he flayed but a little while.
Towards the duik of the evening, on the 20th, one of the natives made off
with a mufquet belonging to the Guard on ihore. Captain Cook was prefent
when this happened, and fent fome of the people after him : this, however,
would have been to little purpofe, had not fome of the natives, of their own
accord, purfued the thief: having knocked him down, they took from him
the mufquet, and brought it back. Fear, on this occafion, there is no doubt,
operated more with the purfuers than principle; yet they deferve to be applauded
for fuch an a<ft of juftice.
The morning of the 21ft a Chief made Captain Cook a vifit, and prefented
him with a quantity of fruit; among which were a quantity of cocoa nuts*
which the people had drawn the water from, and afterwards thrown overboard.
Thefe he had picked up, and tied in bundles fo artfully, that the deception
was not at firft perceived. When he was told of it, without betraying the leaft
emotion*