62 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



board ; and Captain Cook gave a piece of broad cloth to 

 one of the chiefs, and some small presents to the others. 

 They traded peaceably for some time, being terrified at the 

 fire-arms, the effect of which they were not unacquainted 

 with ; but whilst the captain was at dinner, on a signal 

 given by one of their chiefs, all the Indians quitted the ship, 

 and they attempted to tow away the buoy. A musket 

 was now fired over them, but it produced no effect ; small 

 shot was then fired at them, but it did not reach them. A 

 musket loaded with ball was, therefore, ordered to be 

 fired, and the son of one of the chiefs was wounded in the 

 thigh, which induced them immediately to throw the 

 buoy overboard. If these Indians had been under any 

 kind of military discipline, they might have proved a much 

 more formidable enemy ; but acting thus, without any 

 plan or regulation, they only exposed themselves to the 

 annoyance of fire-arms, whilst they could not possibly 

 succeed in any of their designs. 



Captain Cook, Mr. Banks, and Dr. Solander landed upon 

 the island. The gentlemen were now in a small cove, and 

 were presently surrounded by near four hundred armed 

 Indians ; but the captain, not suspecting any hostile design 

 on the part of the natives, remained peaceably disposed. 

 The gentlemen marching towards them drew a line, intimat- 

 ing that they were not to pass it ; they did not infringe 

 upon this boundary for some time, but at length sung the 

 song of defiance, and began to dance, whilst a party 

 attempted to draw the Endeavour's boats on shore. These 

 signals for an attack being immediately followed by the 

 Indians breaking in upon the line, the gentlemen judged 

 it time to defend themselves, and accordingly the captain 

 fired his musket, loaded with small shot (not with ball), 

 which was seconded by Mr. Banks discharging his piece, 

 and two of the men followed his example. This threw 

 the Indians into great confusion, and they retreated ; but 

 were rallied again by one of their chiefs, who shouted and 

 waved his patoo patoo. The Doctor now pointed his 

 musket at this hero, and hit him ; this stopped his career, 

 and he took to flight with the other Indians. They 

 retired to an eminence in a collective body, and seemed 

 dubious whether they should return to the charge. The 

 Indians had in this skirmish two of their people wounded, 

 but none killed. Peace being again restored, the gentle- 

 men began to gather celery and other herbs ; but suspecting 

 some of the natives were lurking about with evil designs, 

 they repaired to a cave, which was at a small distance ; 

 here they found the chief, who had that day received a 

 present from the captain ; he came forth with his wife 



