282 cook's first voyage oct* 



their paddles than our promises, and continued to 

 make from us with all their power. I then ordered 

 a musket to be fired over their heads, as the least 

 exceptionable expedient to accomplish my design, 

 hoping it would either make them surrender, or leap 

 into the water. Upon the discharge of the piece, 

 they ceased paddling ; and all of them, being seven 

 in number, began to strip, as we imagined, to jump 

 overboard ; but it happened otherwise. They im- 

 mediately formed a resolution not to fly, but to fight ; 

 and when the boat came up, they began the attack 

 with their paddles, and with stones and other offen- 

 sive weapons that were in the boat, so vigorously, 

 that we were obliged to fire upon them in our own 

 defence ; four were unhappily killed, and the other 

 three, who were boys, the eldest about nineteen, and 

 the youngest about eleven, instantly leaped into the 

 water ; the eldest swam with great vigour, and re- 

 sisted the attempts of our people to take him into the 

 boat by every effort that he could make : he was 

 however at last overpowered, and the other two were 

 taken up with less difficulty. I am conscious that 

 the feeling of every reader of humanity will censure 

 me for having fired upon these unhappy people, and 

 it is impossible that, upon a calm review, I should 

 approve it myself. They certainly did not deserve 

 death for not chusing to confide in my promises ; or 

 not consenting to come on board my boat, even if 

 they had apprehended no danger ; but the nature of 

 my service required me to obtain a knowledge of 

 their country, which I could no otherwise effect than 

 by forcing my way into it in a hostile manner, or 

 gaining admission through the confidence and good- 

 will of the people. I had already tried the power of 

 presents without effect ; and I was now prompted, 

 by my desire to avoid further hostilities, to get some 

 of them on board, as the only method left of convinc- 

 ing them that we intended them no harm, and had 

 it in our power to contribute to their gratificatioa 



