68 . cook's voyage to feb. 



It is somewhat remarkable, that, before we could 

 bring our guns to bear, the islanders had suspected 

 our intentions, from the stir they saw in the ship, 

 and had retired behind their houses and walls. We 

 were therefore obliged to fire, in some measure, at 

 random ; notwithstanding which, our shot produced 

 all the effects that could have been desired. For, 

 soon after, we saw Koah paddling toward us, with 

 extreme haste, and, on liis arrival, we learned that 

 some people had been killed, and amongst the rest 

 Maiha-maiha, a principal chiefi and a near relation 

 of the king.* 



Soon after the arrival of Koah, two boys swam off 

 from the Moral toward the ships, having each a 

 long spear in his hand ; and after they had ap- 

 proached pretty near, they began to chant a song, in 

 a very solemn manner : the subject of which, from 

 their often mentioning the word Orono, and pointing 

 to the village where Captain Cook was killed, we 

 concluded to be the late calamitous disaster. Having 

 sung in a plaintive strain for about twelve or fifteen 

 minutes, during the whole of which time they re- 

 mained in the water, they went on board the Dis- 

 covery, and delivered their spears ; and, after making 

 a short stay, returned on shore. Who sent them, or 

 what was the object of this ceremony, we were never 

 able to learn. 



At night, the usual precautions were taken for the 

 security of the ships; and as soon as it was dark, our 

 two friends, who had visited us the night before, 

 came off again. They assured us, that though the 

 effects of our great guns this afternoon had terri- 

 fied the chiefs exceedingly, they had by no means 

 laid aside their hostile intentions, and advised us to 

 be on our guard. 



* The word matee, is commonly used, in the language of these 

 islands, to express either killing or wounding ; and we were after- 

 ward told, that this chief had only received a slight blow on the 

 face from a stone, which had been struck by one of the balls. 



