1779- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 5$ 



thrown up stone breast-works along the beach, where 

 Captain Cook had landed, probably in expectation 

 of an attack at that place ; and, as soon as we were 

 within reach, they began to throw stones at us with 

 slings, but without doing any mischief. Concluding, 

 therefore, that all attempts to bring them to a parley 

 would be in vain, unless I first gave them some 

 ground for mutual confidence ; I ordered the armed 

 boats to stop, and went on, in the small boat, alone, 

 with a white flag in my hand, which, by a general 

 cry of joy from the natives, I had the satisfaction 

 to find was instantly understood. The women im- 

 mediately returned from the side of the hill, whither 

 they had retired ; the men threw off their mats ; and 

 all sat down together by the water-side, extending 

 their arms, and inviting me to come on shore. 



Though this behaviour was very expressive of a 

 friendly disposition, yet I could not help entertain- 

 ing some suspicions of its sincerity. But when I 

 saw Koah, with a boldness and assurance altogether 

 unaccountable, swimming off toward the boat, with 

 a white flag in his hand, I thought it necessary to 

 return this mark of confidence, and therefore re- 

 ceived him into the boat, though armed ; a circum- 

 stance which did not tend to lessen my suspicions. 

 I must confess, I had long harboured an unfavour- 

 able opinion of this man. The priests had always 

 told us, that he was of a malicious disposition, and 

 no friend of ours ; and the repeated detections of 

 his fraud and treachery, had convinced us of the 

 truth of their representations. Add to all this, the 

 shocking transaction of the morning, in which he 

 was seen acting a principal part, made me feel the 

 utmost horror at finding myself so near him ; and 

 as he came up to me with feigned tears, and em- 

 braced me, I was so distrustful of his intentions, that 

 I could not help taking hold of the point of the 

 pahooah, which he held in his hand, and turning 

 it from me. I told him, that I had come to demand 



