THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



4 J 



the women and children were immediately fent off; and *77&« 



1 i , , ^ , February. 



the men put on their war-mats, and armed themfelves with 

 fpears and ftones. One of the natives, having in his hands 

 a flone, and a long iron fpike (which they call a pahooa) 

 eame up to the Captain, flourifhing his weapon, by way of 

 defiance, and threatening to. throw the flone. The Captain 

 defired him to defift; but the man perfifling in his infolence, 

 he was at length provoked to fire a load of fmall-fhot. The 

 man having his mat on, which the mot were not able to pe- 

 netrate, this had no other effect than to irritate and encou- 

 rage them. Several ftones were thrown at the marines ; and 

 one of the Erees attempted to flab Mr. Phillips with his 

 pahooa ; but failed in the attempt, and received from him a 

 blow with the but end of his mufquet. Captain Cook now 

 fired his fecond barrel, loaded with ball, and killed one of 

 the foremofl of the natives. A general attack with (tones, 

 immediately followed, which was anfwered by a difcharge 

 of mufquetry from the marines, and the people in the boats. 

 The iflanders, contrary to the expectations of every one, 

 flood the fire with great firmnefs ; and before the marines 

 had time to reload, they broke in upon them with dreadful; 

 fhouts and yells. What followed was a fcene of the utmofl 

 horror and confufion. 



Pour of the marines were cut off amongfl the rocks in 

 their retreat, and fell a faenfice to the fury of the enemy ; 

 three more were dangeroufly wounded j and the Lieutenant,, 

 who had received a flab between the moulders with a paboooi 

 having fortunately referved his fire, (hot the man who had 

 wounded him juft as he was going to repeat his blow. Our 

 unfortunate Commander, the lafl time he was feen diflincthv 

 was (landing at the water's edge, and calling out to the 

 boats to ceafe firing, and to pull im If it be true, as ibme 



of 



