180 cook's first voyage JULY, 



them at liberty, and others for detaining them ; that 



an eager dispute ensued, and that from words they 



came to blows, but that the party for detaining them 



at length prevailed ; that soon after Webb and 



Gibson were brought in by a party of the natives, 



as prisoners, that they also might be secured as 



hostages for the chief; but that it was, after some 



debate, resolved to send Webb to inform me of their 



resolution, to assure me that his companions were safe, 



and direct me where I might send my answer. Thus 



it appears, that, whatever were the disadvantages of 



seizing the chiefs, I should never have recovered my 



men by any other method. When the chiefs were 



set on shore from the ship, those at the fort were also 



set at liberty, and, after staying with Mr. Banks 



about an hour, they all went away. Upon this 



occasion, as they had done upon another of the same 



kind, they expressed their joy by an undeserved 



liberality, strongly urging us to accept of four hogs. 



These we absolutely refused as a present, and they as 



absolutely refusing to be paid for them, the hogs did 



not change masters. Upon examining the deserters, 



we found that the account which the Indians had 



given of them was true : they had strongly attached 



themselves to two girls, and it was their intention to 



conceal themselves till the ship had sailed, and take 



up their residence upon the island. This night every 



thing was got oiF from the shore, and every body 



slept on board. 



Among the natives who were almost constantly 

 with us, was Tupia, whose name has been often 

 mentioned in this narrative. He had been, as I have 

 before observed, the first minister of Oberea, when 

 she was in the height of her power : he was also the 

 chief Tahowa or priest of the island, consequently 

 well acquainted with the religion of the country, as 

 well with respect to its ceremonies as principles. He 

 had also great experience and knowledge in naviga- 

 tion, and was particularly acquainted with the number 



