cook's stratagem. 183 



officers, in sign of amity and reconciliation, and 

 returned to land. 



Since Parea had hindered his countrymen 

 from wreaking their vengeance on one boat, 

 they indemnified themselves by stealing an- 

 other, and in the night cut through the rope 

 v^rhich fastened it to the ship. Cook, enraged 

 at this occurrence, determined to bring the 

 King himself on board his ship, and detain 

 him there as a hostage till the boat should be 

 restored; a measure wMch on another island 

 he had already successfully adopted on a 

 similar occasion. He therefore went ashore 

 with a party of soldiers well armed, having 

 given orders that none of the boats belonging 

 to the natives should be suffered to leave the 

 bay, as it was his determination, in case gentler 

 measures should prove ineffectual, to destroy 

 them all. All the boats of both ships, well 

 manned and armed, were therefore so placed as 

 to enforce obedience to this command. 



Cook was received, according to King''s ac- 

 count, with the greatest respect : the people 

 prostrated themselves before him. He pro- 

 ceeded direct to the old King, and invited him 



