FIRST VOYAGE 51 



intimidate them ; he then fired a second time over their 

 heads, but with no better effect ; alarmed at the situation of 

 the boat, as they were now got near enough to discharge 

 their lances at it, the cockswain levelled his piece at them, 

 and shot one man dead on the spot. Struck with astonish- 

 ment at the fall of their companion, they retreated to the 

 woods with the utmost precipitation. The report of the 

 gun soon brought the advanced party back, and they 

 immediately returned to the ship. 



On Monday, the 9th, in the morning, a number of the 

 natives were seen near the place where the gentlemen in 

 the yawl had landed the preceding evening, and the greatest 

 part of them appeared to be unarmed. The longboat, 

 pinnace, and yawl being ordered out, and manned with 

 marines and sailors, Captain Cook, together with Mr. Banks, 

 the rest of the gentlemen, and Tupia, went on shore, and 

 landed on the opposite side of the river, over against several 

 Indians who were sitting on the ground. 



They started up as soon as the gentlemen began to land, 

 and their intentions appeared hostile, brandishing their 

 weapons in the usual threatening manner ; upon which a 

 musket was fired at some distance from them, at the effect of 

 which, the ball happening to strike the water, they appeared 

 rather terrified, and desisted from their menaces. Tupia 

 spoke to them, and informed them, that they wanted to 

 traffic with them for provisions. They readily consented to 

 trade, and requested the English gentlemen to cross the 

 river and come over to them ; which was agreed to, upon 

 condition that the natives would quit their weapons ; but 

 this, the most solemn assurances of friendship, could not 

 prevail upon them to comply with. 



The gentlemen, in their turn, entreated the Indians to 

 corne over to them, which, after some time, they induced 

 one of them to do ; he was presently followed by several 

 others, bringing their weapons with them. They did not 

 appear to set any great value on the beads, iron, etc., which 

 were presented to them, nor would they give anything in 

 return ; but proposed to exchange their weapons for those 

 belonging to the English, which being objected to, they 

 endeavoured several times to snatch them out of their hands. 

 Tupia, by direction of the gentlemen, gave them notice, that 

 any further offer of violence would be punished with instant 

 death. One of them had, nevertheless, the audacity to 

 snatch Mr. Green's hanger, and retiring a few paces, 

 flourished it over his head ; he, however, paid for this 

 temerity with his life ; and with great difficulty the hanger 

 was recovered. 



This behaviour of the natives, added to the want of fresh 



