1777 THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 81 



denied that they had ever seen it, or knew any thing 

 about it ; even Hamoa himself came and made the 

 same declaration. 



On our first coming to the place, I observed several 

 men running to and fro in the vvoods, with clubs 

 and bundles of darts in their hands ; and Omai, 

 who followed them, had some stones thrown at him, 

 so that it seemed as if they had intended to oppose any 

 step I should take by force ; but, on seeing my party 

 was too strong, had dropped the design. I was con- 

 firmed in this notion, by observing that all their 

 houses were empty. After getting a few of the 

 people of the place together, I desired Omai to expos- 

 tulate with them on the absurdity of the conduct they 

 were pursuing ; and to tell them that, from the testi- 

 mony of many on whom I could depend, I was well 

 assured, that the goat was in their possession, and, 

 therefore, insisted upon its being delivered up, other- 

 wise I would burn their houses and canoes. But 

 notwithstanding all that I or Omai could say, they con- 

 tinued to deny their having any knowledge of it. The 

 consequence was, that I set fire to six or eight houses, 

 which were presently consumed, with two or three 

 war-canoes that lay contiguous to them. This done, I 

 marched off to join the boats, which were about seven 

 or eight miles from us ; and, in our way, we burnt 

 six more war-canoes, without any one attempting 

 to oppose us ; on the contrary, many assisted, though 

 probably, more out of fear than good-will. In one 

 place, Omai, who had advanced a little before, came 

 back with information that a great many men were 

 getting together to attack us. We made ready to 

 receive them, but instead of enemies we found peti- 

 tioners with plantain-trees in their hands, which they 

 laid down at my feet, and begged that 1 would spare 

 a canoe that lay close by, which I readily complied 

 with. 



At length, about four in the afternoon, we got to 

 the boats, that were waiting at Wharrarade, the dis- 



VOL. VI. g 



