1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 55 



alarming. The natives were arming, and putting on 

 their mats; and their numbers increased very fast. 

 I could also perceive several large bodies marching 

 toward us, along the cliff which separates the village 

 of Kakooa from the north side of the bay, where the 

 village of Kowrowa is situated. 



They began, at first, to attack us with stones from 

 behind the walls of their inclosures, and finding no 

 resistance on our part, they soon grew more daring. 

 A few resolute fellows, having crept along the beach, 

 under cover of the rocks, suddenly made their 

 appearance at the foot of the Moral, with a design, 

 as it seemed, of storming it on the side next the sea, 

 which was its only accessible part ; and were not 

 dislodged, till after they had stood a considerable 

 number of shot, and seen one of their party fall. 



The bravery of one of these assailants well deserves 

 to be particularly mentioned ; for having returned to 

 carry off his companion, amidst the fire of our whole 

 party, a wound which he received made him quit the 

 body and retire; but, in a few minutes, he again ap- 

 peared, and being again wounded, he was obliged a 

 second time to retreat. At this moment I arrived at 

 the Moral, and saw him return the third time, bleeding 

 and faint ; and being informed of what had happened, 

 I forbade the soldiers to fire, and he was suffered to 

 carry off his friend; which he was just able to per- 

 form, and then fell down himself and expired. 



About this time, a strong reinforcement from both 

 ships having landed, the natives retreated behind 

 their walls; which giving me access to our friendly 

 priests, I sent one of them to endeavour to bring 

 their countrymen to some terms, and to propose to 

 them, that if they would desist from throwing stones, 

 I would not permit our men to fire. This truce was 

 agreed to, and we were suffered to launch the mast, 

 and carry off the sails, and our astronomical appara- 

 tus, unmolested. As soon as we had quitted the 



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