THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 7S 



I have already mentioned, that orders had been given to '779- 



burn only a few ftraggling huts, which afforded fhelter to \ > — j 



the natives. We were therefore a good deal furprized to fee 

 the whole village on fire; and before a boat, that was 

 fent to flop the progrefs of the. mifchief, could reach the 

 fhore, the houfes of our old and conftant friends, the priefts, 

 were all in flames. I cannot enough lament the illnefs, that 

 confined me on board this day. The priefts had always 

 been under my protection ; and, unluckily, the officers who 

 were then on duty, having been feldom on fhore at the 

 Moral, were not much acquainted with the circumftances of 

 the place. Had I been prefent myfelf, I might probably 

 have been the means of faving their little fociety from 

 deftruction. 



Several of the natives were fhot, in making their efcape 

 from the flames ; and our people cut off the heads of two 

 of them, and brought them on board. The fate of one 

 poor iflander was much lamented by us all. As he was 

 coming to the well for water, he was fhot at by one of the 

 marines. The ball flruck his calibafh, which he immedi- 

 ately threw from him and fled. He was purfued into one 

 of the caves I have before defcribed, and no lion could have 

 defended his den with greater courage and fiercenefs ; till 

 at laft, after having kept two of our people at bay for a 

 confiderable time, he expired, covered with wounds. It was 

 this accident, that firfl brought us acquainted with the ufe 

 of thefe caverns. 



At this time, an elderly man was taken prifoner, bound, 

 and fent on board in the fame boat with the heads of his 

 two countrymen. I never faw horror fo ftrongly pictured, 

 as in the face of this man, nor fo violent a tranfition to 



L 2 extravagant 



