THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 55 



where the mail and fails were on fhore, with a euard of '779- 



r • m February, 



only fix marines. It is impofiible for me to defcribe the 

 emotions of my own mind, during the time thefe tranf- 

 actions had been carrying on, at the other fide of the bay. 

 Being at the diftance only of a fhort mile from the village 

 of Kowrowa, we could fee diftinctly an immenfe crowd col- 

 lected on the fpot where Captain Cook had juft before 

 landed. We heard the firing of the mufquetry, and could 

 perceive fome extraordinary buftle and agitation in the mul- 

 titude. We afterward faw the natives flying, the boats re^ 

 tire from the fhore, and palling and repaffing, in great 

 ftillnefs, between the (hips. I mud confefs, that my heart 

 foon mifgave me. Where a life fo dear and valuable was 

 concerned, it was impofiible not to be alarmed, by appear^ 

 ances both new and threatening. But, befides this, I knew, 

 that a long and uninterrupted courfe of fuccefs, in his tranf- 

 actions with the natives of thefe fcas, had given the Captain 

 a degree of confidence, that I was always fearful might, at 

 fome unlucky moment, put him too much off his guard ,- 

 and 1 now faw all the dangers to which that confidence 

 might lead, without receiving much confolation from con- 

 iidering the experience that had given rife to it. 



My fir ft care, on hearing the mufquets fired, was, to aflure 

 the people, who were affembled in confidcrable numbers, 

 round the wall of our confederated field, and feemed equally 

 at a lofs with ourfelves how to account for what they had 

 feen and heard, that they fhould not be molefted ; and that, 

 at all events, I was defirous of continuing on peaceable 

 terms with them. We remained in this pofture, till the 

 boats had returned on board, when Captain Gierke, obferv- 

 ing, through his telefcope, that we were furrounded by the 

 natives, and apprehending they meant to attack us, ordered 



two 



