38 cook's voyage to fee. 



frequently encouraged us in the pursuit, were amusing 

 us with false information, we thought it in vain to 

 continue our search any longer, and returned to the 

 beach. 



During our absence, a difference of a more serious 

 and unpleasant nature had happened. The officer, 

 who had been sent in the small boat, and was return- 

 ing on board with the goods which had been re- 

 stored, observing Captain Cook and me engaged in 

 the pursuit of the offenders, thought it his duty to 

 seize the canoe, which was left drawn up on the 

 shore. Unfortunately, this canoe belonged to Pareea, 

 who arriving, at the same moment, from on board 

 the Discovery, claimed his property, with many pro- 

 testations of his innocence. The officer refusing to 

 give it up, and being joined by the crew of the pin- 

 nace, which was waiting for Captain Cook, a scuffle 

 ensued, in which Pareea was knocked down by a 

 violent blow on the head with an oar. The natives, 

 who were collected about the spot, and had hitherto 

 been peaceable spectators, immediately attacked our 

 people with such a shower of stones as forced them 

 to retreat with great precipitation, and swim off to 

 a rock, at some distance from the shore. The pin- 

 nace w r as immediately ransacked by the islanders ; 

 and, but for the timely interposition of Pareea, who 

 seemed to have recovered from the blow, and forgot 

 it at the same instant, would soon have been entirely 

 demolished. Having driven away the crowd, he 

 made signs to our people, that they might come and 

 take possession of the pinnace, and that he would en- 

 deavour to get back the things which had been taken 

 out of it. After their departure, he followed them 

 in his canoe, with a midshipman's cap, and some 

 other trifling articles of the plunder, and, with much 

 apparent concern at what had happened, asked, if the 

 Orono would kill him, and whether he would permit 

 him to come on board the next day ? On being as- 

 sured that he should be well received, he joined 



