180 COOK S SEVERITY. 



of importance. His being called by them &quot; O 

 Rono,&quot; (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 

 offenders 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 

 Tute, 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- 



