4 cook's SECOND VOYAGE JUNE, 



or any convenient landing-place, we at length came 

 before a small beach, on which lay four canoes. 

 Here we landed by means of a little creek, formed by 

 the flat rocks before it, with a view of just looking at 

 the canoes, and to leave some medals, nails, &c. in 

 them ; for not a soul was to be seen. The situation 

 of this place was to us worse than the former. A 

 flat rock lay next the sea ; behind it a narrow stone 

 beech ; this was bounded by a perpendicular rocky 

 cliff of unequal height, whose top was covered with 

 shrubs ; two deep and narrow chasms in the cliff" 

 seemed to open a communication into the country. 

 In, or before one of these, lay the four canoes which 

 we were going to look at ; but in the doing of this, I 

 saw we should be exposed to an attack from the 

 natives, if there were any, without being in a situation 

 proper for defence. To prevent this, as much as 

 could be, and to secure a retreat in case of an attack, 

 I ordered the men to be drawn up upon the rock, 

 from whence they had a view of the heights ; and 

 only myselfi and four of the gentlemen, went up to 

 the canoes. We had been there but a few minutes, 

 before the natives, I cannot say how many, rushed 

 down the chasm out of the wood upon us. The en- 

 deavours we used to bring them to a parly, were to 

 no purpose ; for they came with the ferocity of wild 

 boars, and threw their darts. Two or three musquets, 

 dischgared in the air, did not hinder one of them 

 from advancing still farther, and throwing another 

 dart, or rather a spear, which passed close over my 

 shoulder. His courage would have cost him his life, 

 had not my musquet missed fire ; for I was not five 

 paces from him, when he threw his spear, and had 

 resolved to shoot him to save myself. I was glad 

 afterwards that it happened as it did. At this instant, 

 our men on the rock began to fire at others who ap- 

 peared on the heights, which abated the ardour of the 

 party we were engaged with, and gave us time to 

 join our people, when I caused the firing to cease. 



