JOHN LEDYARD. 293 



captains met to consult what should be done on 

 this alarming occasion ; and the issue of their opi- 

 nions was, that one of the two captains should land 

 with armed boats and a guard of marines at Kiverua, 

 and attempt to persuade Teraiobu, who was then at 

 his house in that town, to come on board upon a 

 visit, and that when he was on board he should be 

 kept prisoner until his subjects should release him 

 by a restitution of the cutter ; and, if it was after- 

 ward thought proper, he, or some of the family w r ho 

 might accompany him, should be kept as perpetual 

 hostages for the good behavior of the people during 

 the remaining part of our continuance at Keara- 

 kekua. This plan was the more approved of by 

 Cook, as he had so repeatedly on former occasions 

 to the southward employed it with success. Clerke 

 was then in a deep decline of his health, and too 

 feeble to undertake the affair, though it naturally 

 devolved upon him, as a point of duty not well 

 transferable : he therefore begged Cook to oblige 

 him so much as to take that part of the business 

 of the day upon himself in his stead. This Cook 

 agreed to, but previous to his landing made some 

 additional arrangements, respecting the possible 

 events of things, though it is certain, from the ap- 

 pearance of the subsequent arrangements, that he 

 guarded more against the flight of Teraiobu, or 



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