FIRST VOYAGE 63 



and brother, and solicited their clemency. It appeared 

 that one of the wounded Indians was ~a brother of this 

 chief, who was under great anxiety lest the wound should 

 prove mortal ; but his grief was in a great degree alleviated 

 when he was made acquainted with the different effects 

 of small shot and ball ; he was at the same time assured, 

 that upon any future hostilities being committed, ball 

 would be used. This interview terminated very cordially, 

 after some trifling presents were made to the chief and 

 his companions. 



The prudence of the gentlemen upon this occasion cannot 

 be much commended. Had these four hundred Indians 

 boldly rushed in upon them at once with their weapons, the 

 musketry could have done very little execution ; but sup- 

 posing twenty or thirty of the Indians had been wounded, 

 for it does not appear their pieces were loaded with ball, 

 but only small shot, there would have remained a sufficient 

 number to have massacred them, as it appears they do not 

 give any quarter, and none could have been expected upon 

 this occasion. 



Being again in their boats, they rowed to another part 

 of the same island, when, landing and gaining an eminence, 

 they had an agreeable and romantic view of a great number 

 of islands, well inhabited and cultivated. The inhabitants 

 of an adjacent town approached unarmed, and testified great 

 humility and submission. Some of the party on shore, 

 who had been very violent for having the Indians punished 

 for their fraudulent conduct, were now guilty of trespasses 

 equally reprehensible, having forced into some of the 

 plantations and dug up potatoes. Captain Cook upon 

 this occasion showed, as he always did, strict justice, in 

 punishing each of the offenders with twelve lashes. One of 

 them being very refractory upon the occasion, and com- 

 plaining of the hardship, thinking an Englishman had a 

 right to plunder an Indian with impunity, was flogged out 

 of his opinion with six additional lashes. Probably his 

 adding, " that in this he had only followed the example of 

 his superiors," might have had no little weight in procuring 

 him this last sentence. 



On Tuesday, the 5th, in the morning, they weighed 

 anchor, but were soon becalmed, and a strong current 

 setting towards the shore, they were driven in with such 

 rapidity, that they expected every moment to run upon 

 the breakers, which appeared above water not more than 

 a cable's length distance ; they were so near the land, 

 that Tupia, who was totally ignorant of the danger, held 

 a conversation with the Indians, who were standing on 

 the beach. They were happily relieved, however, from 



