THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 61 



refentment would more effectually have anfvvered every v^ 



February. 



object both of prudence and humanity, I was not forry, that 

 the meafures I had recommended were rejected. For though 

 the contemptuous behaviour of the natives, and their fub- 

 fequent oppofition to our necefTary operations on more, arif- 

 ing, I have no doubt, from a mifconftruetion of our lenity, 

 compelled us at laft to have recourfe to violence in our own 

 defence; yet I am notfofure, that the circumftances of the 

 cafe would, in the opinion of the world, have juftified the 

 ufe of force, on our part, in the firft inftance. Cautionary 

 rigour is at all times invidious, and has this additional ob- 

 jection to it, that the feverity of a preventive courfe, 

 when it bed fucceeds, leaves its expediency the leaft ap- 

 parent. 



During the time we were thus engaged, in concerting 

 fome plan for our future conduct, a prodigious concourfe 

 of natives ftill kept poffeffion of the more ; and fome of 

 them came off in canoes, and had the boldncfs to approach 

 within piftol-Ihot of the fhips, and to infult us by various 

 marks of contempt and defiance. It was with great diffi- 

 culty we could reflrain the failors from the ufe of their 

 arms, on thefe occalions ; but as pacific meafures had 

 been refolved on, the canoes were fuffered to return un- 

 molested. 



In purfuance of this plan, it was determined, that I 

 mould proceed toward the ihore, with the boats of both 

 mips, well manned and armed, with a view to bring the 

 natives to a parley, and, if poilible, to obtain a conference 

 with fome of the Chiefs. 



If this attempt fucceeded, I was to demand the dead 

 bodies, and particularly that of Captain Cook ; to threaten 



them. 



