42 cook's second voyage august, 



I thought a friendly offer, but had reason afterwards 

 to alter my opinion. When they found I would not 

 do as they desired, they made signs for us to go down 

 into the bay, which we accordingly did, and they ran 

 along shore abreast of us, their number increasing 

 prodigiously. I put into the shore in two or three 

 places, but, not liking the situation, did not land. 

 By this time, I believe, the natives conceived what 

 1 wanted, as they directed me round a rocky point, 

 where, on a fine sandy beach, I stepped out of the 

 boat without wetting a foot, in the face of a vast 

 multitude, with only a green branch in my hand, 

 which I had before got from one of them. I took 

 but one man out of the boat with me, and ordered the 

 other boat to lie to a little distance off. They received 

 me with great courtesy and politeness, and would 

 retire back from the boat on my making the least 

 motion with my hand. A man whom I took to be a 

 chief, seeing this, made them form a semicircle round 

 the boat's bow, and beat such as attempted to break 

 through this order. This man I loaded with presents, 

 giving likewise to others, and asked by signs for fresh 

 water, in hopes of seeing where they got it. The 

 chief immediately sent a man for some, who ran to 

 a house, and presently returned with a little in a 

 bamboo ; so that I gained but little information by 

 this. I next asked, by the same means, for some- 

 thing to eat ; and they as readily brought me a yam, 

 and some cocoa-nuts. In short, I was charmed with 

 their behaviour ; and the only thing which could give 

 the least suspicion was, that most of them were armed 

 with clubs, spears, darts, and bows and arrows. For 

 this reason I kept my eye continually upon the chieft 

 and watched his looks as well as his actions. He 

 made many signs to me to haul the boat up upon the 

 shore, and at last slipped into the crowd, where I ob- 

 served him speak to several people, and then return 

 to me, repeating signs to haul the boat up, and hesi- 

 tating a good deal before he would receive some 



