THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 59 



It was half an hour paft eleven o'clock, when I got on '779- 



* ° February. 



board the Difcovery, where I found no decifive plan had ' ' 



been adopted for our future proceedings. The reltitution 

 of the boat, and the recovery of the body of Captain Cook 

 were the objects, which, on all hands, we agreed to infift 

 on ; and it was my opinion, that fome vigorous ftcps mould 

 be taken, in cafe the demand of them was not immediately 

 complied with. 



Though my feelings, on the death of a beloved and ho- 

 noured friend, may be fufpected to have had fome fhare 

 in this opinion, yet there were certainly other realbns, and 

 thofe of the moil ferious kind, that had confidcrablc weight 

 with me. The confidence which their fuccefs in killing our 

 Chief, and forcing us to quit the fliorc, muft naturally have 

 infpircd ; and the advantage, however trifling, which they 

 had obtained over us the preceding day, would, I had no 

 doubt, encourage them to make fome further dangerous 

 attempts; and the more efpecially, as they had little reafon, 

 from what they had hitherto feen, to dread the effects of 

 our fire-arms. Indeed, contrary to the expectations of every 

 one, this fort of weapon had produced no figns of terror in 

 them. On our fide, fuch was the condition of the mips, 

 and the ftate of difcipline amongft us, that had a vigorous 

 attack been made on us, in the night, it would have been 

 impoflible to anfwer for the confequences. 



In thefe apprehenfions, I was fupported by the opinion 

 of raoft of the officers on board ; and nothing feemed to 

 me fo likely to encourage the natives to make the attempt, 

 as the appearance of our being inclined to an accom- 

 modation, which they could only attribute to weakness, or 

 fear. 



I 2 In 



