280 cook's VOYAGE TO APRIL, 



of the natives came down upon the reef, armed with 

 long pikes and clubs, as if they intended to oppose 

 his landing. And yet when he drew near enough, 

 they threw some cocoa-nuts to our people, and in- 

 vited them to come on shore ; though, at the very 

 same time, he observed, that the women were very 

 busy bringing down a fresh supply of spears and 

 darts. But, as he had no motive to land, he did not 

 give them an opportunity to use them." 



Having received this report, I considered, that, as 

 the ships could not be brought to an anchor, we 

 should find that the attempt to procure grass here, 

 would occasion much delay, as well as be attended 

 with some danger. Besides, we were equally in 

 want of water ; and though the inhabitants had told 

 us that there was water on their island, yet we neither 

 knew in what quantity, nor from what distance, we 

 might be obliged to fetch it. And, after all, sup- 

 posing no other obstruction, we were sure that to 

 get over the reef, would be an operation equally 

 difficult and tedious. 



Being thus disappointed at all the islands we had 

 met with, since our leaving New Zealand, and the 

 unfavourable winds, and other unforeseen circum- 

 stances, having unavoidably retarded our progress 

 so much, it was now impossible to think of doing 

 any thing this year, in the high latitudes of the 

 northern hemisphere, from which we were still at so 

 great a distance, though the season for our oper- 

 ations there was already begun. In this situation, it 

 was absolutely necessary to pursue such measures as 

 were most likely to preserve the cattle we had on 

 board, in the first place ; and, in the next place 

 (which was still a more capital object), to save the 

 stores and provisions of the ships, that we might be 

 better enabled to prosecute our northern discoveries, 

 which could not now commence till a year later than 

 was originally intended. 



If I had been so fortunate as to have procured a 



