76 



A VOYAGE TO 



1779^ extravagant joy, as when he was untied, and told he might 

 go away in fafety. He mewed us he did not want grati- 

 tude, as he frequently afterward returned with prefents of 

 provifions ; and alfo did us other fervices. 



Soon after the village was deftroyed, we faw, coming 

 down the hill, a man, attended by fifteen or twenty boys, 

 holding pieces of white cloth, green boughs, plantains, &c. 

 in their hands. I knew not how it happened, that this 

 peaceful embafly, as foon as they were within reach, re- 

 ceived the fire of a party of our men. This, however, did 

 not Hop them. They continued their proceffion, and the 

 officer on duty came up, in time, to prevent a fecond dif- 

 charge. As they approached nearer, it was found to be our 

 much-efteemed friend Kaireekeea, who had ficd on our 

 firft fetting fire to the village, and had now returned, and 

 defired to be fent on board the Refolution. 



When he arrived, we found him exceedingly grave and 

 thoughtful. We endeavoured to make him underftand the 

 neceflity we were under of fetting fire to the village, by 

 which his houfe, and thofe of his brethren, were uninten- 

 tionally confumed. He cxpoflulated a little with us on our 

 want of friendfliip, and on our ingratitude. And, indeed, 

 it was not till now, that we learnt the whole extent of the 

 injury we had done them. He told us, that, relying on the 

 promifes I had made them, and on the ailurances they had 

 afterward received from the men, who had brought.us the 

 remains of Captain Cook, they had not removed their ef- 

 fects back into the country, with the reft of the inhabitants, 

 but had put every thing that was valuable of their own, as 

 well as what they had collected from us, into a houfe clofe 

 to the Morai, where they had the mortification to fee it all 

 fet on fire by ourfelvcs. 



5 On 



