1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 6l 



which is understood amongst these islanders as the 

 sign of truth ; in the use of which they are very 

 scrupulous. 



As I was now at a loss in what manner to pro- 

 ceed, I sent Mr. Vancouver to acquaint Captain 

 Gierke with all that had passed ; that my opinion 

 was, they meant not to keep their word with us, and 

 were so far from being sorry at what had happened, 

 that, on the contrary, they were full of spirits and 

 confidence on account of their late success, and 

 sought only to gain time, till they could contrive 

 some scheme for getting us into their power. Mr. 

 Vancouver came back with orders for me to return on 

 board ; having first given the natives to understand, 

 that if the body was not brought the next morning, 

 the town should be destroyed. 



When they saw that we were going off, they en- 

 deavoured to provoke us by the most insulting and 

 contemptuous gestures. Some of our people said, 

 they could distinguish several of the natives parad- 

 ing about in the clothes of our unfortunate com- 

 rades; and, among them, a chief brandishing Cap- 

 tain Cook's hanger, and a woman holding the 

 scabbard. Indeed, there can be no doubt, but 

 that our behaviour had given them a mean opinion 

 of our courage ; for they could have but little notion 

 of the motives of humanity that directed it. 



In consequence of the report I made to Captain 

 Clerke, of what I conceived to be the present tem- 

 per and disposition of the islanders, the most effec- 

 tual measures were taken to guard against any attack 

 they might make in the night. The boats were 

 moored with top-chains ; additional sentinels were 

 posted on both ships ; and guard-boats were stationed 

 to row round them, in order to prevent the natives 

 from cutting the cables. During the night we ob- 

 served a prodigious number of lights on the hills, 

 which made some of us imagine they were removing 

 their effects back into the country, in consequence 



