February. 



' . — 



THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



obferved to be directed at a canoe*, that we faw paddling '779 

 toward the fhore, in great hafte, purfued by one of our 

 fraall boats. We immediately concluded, that the firing 

 was in confequence of fome theft, and Captain Cook or- 

 dered me to follow him with a marine armed, and to en- 

 deavour to feize the people, as they came on more. Ac- 

 cordingly we ran toward the place where we fuppofed the 

 canoe would land, but were too late ; the people having 

 quitted it, and made their cfcape into the country before 

 our arrival. 



We were at this time ignorant, that the goods had been 

 already reflored ; and as we thought it probable, from the 

 circumftanccs we had at fir ft obferved, that they might be 

 of importance, were unwilling to relinquish our hopes of 

 recovering them. Having therefore inquired of the natives, 

 which way the people had fled, we followed them,, till it 

 was near dark, when judging ourfelves to be about three 

 miles from the tents, and fufpecting, that the natives, who 

 frequently encouraged us in the purfuit, were amufing us 

 with falfe information, we thought it in vain to continue 

 our fearch any longer, and returned to the beach. 



During our abfence, a difference, of a more ferious and 

 unpleafant nature, had happened. The officer, who had 

 been fent in the fmall boat, and was returning on board, 

 with the goods which had been reflored, obferving Captain 

 Cook and me engaged in the purfuit of the offenders, 

 thought it his duty to feize the canoe, which was left drawn 

 up on the fhore. Unfortunately, this canoe belonged to 

 Pareea, who arriving, at the fame moment, from on board 

 the Difcovery, claimed his property, with many protections 

 of his innocence. The officer ref'ufing to give it up, and 



be- 



