180 cook's severity. 



of importance. His being called by them " O 

 Rono," (the Rono) did not enlighten him on 

 the subject, as he was unacquainted with the 

 tradition; but he contented himself with the 

 conjecture, that the appellation was a title of 

 honour, signifying chief or priest. Had the 

 conduct of Cook made it possible for the island- 

 ers to retain their beneficial error, the good 

 understanding between them and the English 

 would never have been interrupted; but he 

 himself was the first to convince them that he 

 could not be their divine benefactor. 



Some of the populace conceived themselves 

 entitled to appropriate a portion of the presents 

 which Rono, according to his promise, had 

 brought them — a licence which was immediate- 

 ly punished by Cook with great severity : the 

 ofi'enders taken in the fact were whipped ; those 

 who fled were fired upon ; and several persons, 

 some of whom were innocent, lost their lives. 

 Rono could not be so cruel and unjust ; and 

 Tiite^ as they called Cook, immediately sunk in 

 their estimation to the rank of ordinary mortals. 

 He was henceforth feared as a mighty chief, 

 but venerated no longer. This change of sen- 



