268 cook's first voyage august, 



land, and pushed towards the shore, a canoe at the 

 same time putting off to meet them. As soon as 

 it came near them, they lay upon their oars, and 

 calling out to them, told them that they were friends, 

 and, that if they would come up, they would give 

 them nails, which were held up for them to see: 

 after some hesitation they came up to the boat's 

 stern, and took some nails that were offered them 

 with great seeming satisfaction ; but in less than a 

 minute they appeared to have formed a design of 

 boarding the boat, and making her their prize : three 

 of them suddenly leaped into it, and the others 

 brought up the canoe, which the motion in quitting 

 her had thrown off a little, manifestly with a design 

 to follow their associates, and support them in their 

 attempt. The first that boarded the boat, entered 

 close to Mr. Banks, and instantly snatched his 

 powder-horn out of his pocket : Mr. Banks seized it, 

 and with some difficulty wrenched it out of his hand, 

 at the same time pressing against his breast in order 

 to force him over-board, but he was too strong for 

 him, and kept his place : the officer then snapped his 

 piece, but it missed fire, upon which he ordered some 

 of the people to fire over their heads ; two pieces 

 were accordingly discharged, upon which they all 

 instantly leaped into the water : one of the people, 

 either from cowardice or cruelty, or both, levelled a 

 third piece at one of them as he was swimming away, 

 and the ball grazed his forehead ; happily, however, 

 the wound was very slight, for he recovered the 

 canoe, and stood up in her as active and vigorous 

 as the rest. The canoe immediately stood in for the 

 shore, where a great number of people, not less than 

 two hundred, were now assembled. The boat also 

 pushed in, but found the land guarded all round with 

 a shoal, upon which the sea broke with a considerable 

 surf; it was, therefore, thought advisable by the 

 officer to proceed along shore in search of a more con- 

 venient landing-place : in the mean time, the people 



