FIRST VOYAGE 53 



much satisfaction, when told they were going to be released. 

 They informed Captain Cook that there was a particular 

 kind of deer upon the island, likewise taro, capes, romara, 

 yams, a kind of long pepper, bald coots, "and black-birds. 



On the 12th, several Indians came off in a canoe ; they 

 were disfigured in a strange manner, danced and sung, and 

 appeared at times to be peaceably inclined, at others to 

 menace hostilities ; but notwithstanding Tupia strongly 

 invited them to come on board, none of them would quit 

 the canoe. Whilst the Endeavour was getting clear of the 

 shambles, five canoes full of Indians came off, and seemed 

 to threaten the people on board, by brandishing their 

 lances, and other hostile gestures ; a four pounder, loaded 

 with grape-shot, was therefore ordered to be fired, but not 

 pointed at them. This had the desired effect, and made 

 them drop astern. Next morning nine canoes full of Indians 

 came from the shore, and five of them, after having con- 

 sulted together, pursued the Endeavour, apparently with a 

 hostile design. Tupia was desired to acquaint them, that 

 immediate destruction would ensue, if they persevered in 

 their attempts ; but words had no influence, and a four- 

 pounder, with grape-shot, was fired, to give them some 

 notion of the arms of their opponents. They were terrified 

 at this kind of reasoning, and paddled away in precipitation. 



The following day, Sunday, the 15th, in the afternoon, a 

 large canoe, with a number of armed Indians, came up, and 

 one of them, who was remarkably clothed with a black skin, 

 found means to defraud the Captain of a piece of red baize, 

 under pretence of bartering the skin he had on. As soon as 

 he had got the baize into his possession, instead of giving the 

 skin in return, agreeable to his bargain, he rolled them 

 up together, and ordered the canoe to put off from the ship, 

 turning a deaf ear to the repeated remonstrances of the 

 Captain against his unjust behaviour. After a short time 

 this canoe, together with the fishing boats which had put off 

 at the same time, came back to the ship, and trade was 

 again begun. During this second traffic with the Indians, 

 one of them unexpectedly seized Tupia' s little boy, Tayota, 

 and pulling him into his canoe, instantly put off, and 

 paddled away with the utmost speed. Several muskets 

 were immediately discharged at the people in the canoe ; 

 and one of them receiving a wound, they all let go the boy, 

 who before was held down in the bottom of the canoe. 

 Tayota taking advantage of their consternation, immediately 

 jumped into the sea, and swam back to the Endeavour. In 

 consequence of this attempt to carry off Tayota, Captain 

 Cook called the cape off which it happened Cape Kidnappers. 



As every circumstance that tends to elucidate the manners 



