1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 67 



they still kept in force on the shore, as if determined 

 to resist any attempts we might make to land ; and 

 yet the attempt was become absolutely necessary, as 

 the completing our supply of water would not admit 

 of any longer delay. 



However it must be observed, in justice to the 

 conduct of Captain Clerke, that it was very probable, 

 from the great numbers of the natives, and from the 

 resolution with which they seemed to expect us, an 

 attack could not have been made without some dan- 

 ger ; and that the loss of a very few men might have 

 been severely felt by us, during the remaining course 

 of our voyage. Whereas the delaying the execution 

 of our threats, though, on the one hand, it lessened 

 their opinion of our prowess, had the effect of causing 

 them to disperse, on the other. For this day about 

 noon, finding us persist in our inactivity, great bodies 

 of them, after blowing their conchs, and using every 

 mode of defiance, marched off over the hills and 

 never appeared afterward. Those, however, who 

 remained, were not the less daring and insolent. One 

 man had the audacity to come within musket-shot, 

 a-head of the ship ; and, after slinging several stones^ 

 at us, he waved Captain Cook's hat over his head, 

 whilst his countrymen on shore were exulting, and 

 encouraging his boldness. Our people were all in a 

 flame at this insult, and coming in a body on the 

 quarter-deck, begged they might no longer be obliged 

 to put up with these repeated provocations ; and re- 

 quested me to obtain permission for them, from Cap- 

 tain Clerke, to avail themselves of the first fair occa- 

 sion of revenging the death of their commander. On 

 my acquainting him with what was passing, he gave 

 orders for some great guns to be fired at the natives 

 on shore ; and promised the crew, that if they should 

 meet with any molestation at the watering-place the 

 next day, they should then be left at liberty to chas- 

 tise them. 



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