1779* T«I3 PACIFIC OCEAN". 53 



much consolation from considering the experience 

 that had given rise to it. 



My first care, on hearing the muskets fired, was, 

 to assure the people, who were assembled in con- 

 siderable numbers round the wall of our consecrated 

 field, and seemed equally at a loss with ourselves how 

 to account for what they had seen and heard, that 

 they should not be molested ; and that, at all events, 

 I was desirous of continuing on peaceable terms with 

 them. We remained in this posture, till the boats had 

 returned on board, when Captain Gierke, observing, 

 through his telescope, that we were surrounded by 

 the natives, and apprehending they meant to attack 

 us, ordered two four pounders to be fired at them. 

 Fortunately these guns, though well aimed, did no 

 mischief, and yet gave the natives a convincing proof 

 of their power. One of the balls broke a cocoa-nut 

 tree in the middle, under which a party of them were 

 sitting; and the other shivered a rock, that stood in 

 an exact line with them. As I had, just before, given 

 them the strongest assurances of their safety, I was 

 exceedingly mortified at this act of hostility; and, to 

 prevent a repetition of it, immediately dispatched a 

 boat to acquaint Captain Clerke, that, at present, I 

 was on the most friendly terms with the natives; and 

 that, if occasion should hereafter arise for altering my 

 conduct tow T ard them, I would hoist a jack, as a sig- 

 nal for him to afford us all the assistance in his power. 



We expected the return of the boat with the ut- 

 most impatience ; and after remaining a quarter of an 

 hour under the most torturing anxiety and suspense, 

 our fears were at length confirmed, by the arrival of 

 Mr. Bligh, with orders to strike the tents as quickly 

 as possible, and to send the sails, that were repairing, 

 on board. Just at the same moment, our friend 

 Kaireekeea having also received intelligence of the 

 death of Captain Cook from a native, who had ar- 

 rived from the other side of the bay, came to me 



e 3 



