48 cook's second voyage august, 



on our right, the other on our left, armed with clubs, 

 darts, spears, slings, and stones, bows and arrows, 

 &c. After distributing to the old people, (for we 

 could distinguish no chief,) and some others, presents 

 of cloth, medals, &c, I ordered two casks to be 

 filled with water out of a pond about twenty paces 

 behind the landing-place ; giving the natives to un- 

 derstand, that this was one of the articles we wanted. 

 Besides water, we got from them a few cocoa-nuts, 

 which seemed to be in plenty on the trees ; but they 

 could not be prevailed upon to part with any of their 

 weapons. These they held in constant readiness, 

 and in the proper attitudes of offence and defence ; 

 so that little was wanting to make them attack us ; at 

 least we thought so, by their pressing so much upon 

 us, and in spite of our endeavours to keep them off. 

 Our early re-embarking probably disconcerted their 

 scheme ; and after that, they all retired. The friendly 

 old man before mentioned, was in one of these parties ; 

 and we judged, from his conduct, that his temper 

 was pacific. 



