Co AVOYAGETO 



1779- In favour or' more conciliatory mcafures, it was juftly urged, 

 epyouy. ^ a( ^ mifchief was done, and irreparable ; that the na- 

 tives had a ftrong claim to our regard, on account of their 

 former friendship and kindnefs ; and the more efpecially, 

 as the late melancholy accident did not appear to have arifen 

 from any premeditated defign : that, on the part of Ter- 

 reeoboo, his ignorance of the theft, his readinefs to accom- 

 pany Captain Cook on board, and his having actually fent 

 his two fons into the boat, muft free him from the fmalleft 

 degree of fufpicion: that the conduct of his women, and 

 the Erees, might eafily be accounted for, from the appre- 

 henfions occafioncd by the armed force with which Captain 

 Cook came on more, and the hoftile preparations in the 

 bay; appearances fo different from the terms of friendfliip 

 and confidence, in which both parties had hitherto lived, 

 that the arming of the natives was evidently with a defign 

 to refill the attempt, which they had fome reafon to imagine 

 would be made, to carry off their king by force, and was 

 naturally to be expected from a people full of affection and. 

 attachment to their Chiefs. 



To thefe motives of humanity, others of a prudential 

 nature were added ; that we were in want of water, and other 

 refreshments : that our foremail would require fix or eight 

 days work, before it could be flcpped : that the fpring was 

 advancing apace ; and that the fpecdy profecution of our 

 next Northern expedition ought now to be our fole object : 

 that therefore to engage in a vindictive corned with the in- 

 habitants* might not only lay us under the imputation of 

 unncceffary cruelty, but would occafion an unavoidable de- 

 lay in the equipment of the mips. 



In tli is latter opinion Captain Clcrkc concurred; and 

 though I was convinced, that an early dilplay of vigorous 



refentmem 



