62 AVOYAGETO 



'779- them with our vengeance in cafe of a refufal; but, by no ' 

 • e ™ r - means, to fire unlefs attacked ; and not to land on any ac- 

 count whatever. Thefc orders were delivered tome before 

 the whole party, and in the mofl pofitive manner. 



I left the mips about four o'clock in the afternoon ; and, 

 as we approached the more, I perceived every indication of 

 a hoftile reception. The whole crowd of natives was in 

 motion ; the women and children retiring; the men putting 

 on their war mats, and arming themfelves with long fpears 

 and daggers. We alio obferved, that, fince the morning, 

 they had thrown up ftone bread- works along the beach, 

 where , Captain Cook had landed; probably in expectation 

 of an attack at that place ; and, '^8 (ocn as we were within 

 reach, they began to throw Hones at us with flings, but 

 without doing any milchief. Concluding, therefore, that all 

 attempts to bring them to a parley would be in vain, unlefs 

 I firfl gave them fome ground for mutual confidence ; I or- 

 dered the armed boats to flop, and went on, in the fmall 

 boat, alone, with a white flag in my hand, which, by a 

 general cry of joy from the natives, I had the fatisfa6tion to 

 find was inftantly undcrflood. The women immediately re- 

 turned from the fide of the hill, whither they had retired; 

 the men threw ofT their mats ; and all fat down together by 

 the water-fide, extending their arms, and inviting me to 

 come on fliore. 



Thoigh this behaviour was very exprefiive of a friendly 

 difpofition, yet I could not help entertaining fome lufpicions 

 of its fincci ity. But when I law Koali, with a boldnefs and 

 aflurance altogether unaccountable, fwimming off toward 

 the boat, with a white flag in his hand, I thought it ne- 

 cefTary to return this mark of confidence, and therefore re- 



ived him into the boat, though armed; a circumftance 



which 



