SECOND VOYAGE 137 



was carried to Oparree in a boat, where Captain Cook 

 entertained him and his people with the bagpipes (of 

 which music they are very fond), and dancing by the 

 seamen. He, in return, ordered some of his people to 

 dance also, which consisted chiefly of contortions. 



Next morning they took a trip to Oparree, again to visit 

 Otoo. They made him up a present of such things as he 

 had not seen before. One article was a broad-sword ; at 

 the sight of which he was so frightened, that Captain Cook 

 had difficulty to persuade him to accept of it, and to have 

 it buckled upon him ; where it remained but a short time 

 before he desired leave to take it off and send it out of 

 his sight. 



Soon after they were conducted to the theatre, where they 

 were entertained with a dramatic performance, in which 

 were both dancing and comedy. The performers were five 

 men and one woman, who was no less a person than the 

 king's sister. The music consisted of three drums only ; 

 it lasted about an hour and a half or two hours, and upon 

 the whole was well conducted. It was not possible for them 

 to find out the meaning of the play. Some part seemed 

 adapted to the present time, as Captain Cook's name 

 was frequently mentioned. Other parts were certainly 

 wholly unconnected with them. The dancing dress of 

 the lady was very handsome, being decorated with tassels, 

 made of feathers, hanging from the waist downward. As 

 soon as all was over, the king dismissed Captain Cook 

 with presents of fruit and fish. 



Nothing farther remarkable happened till ten o'clock in 

 the evening, when they were alarmed with the cry of 

 murder, and a great noise on shore, near the bottom of the 

 bay, at some distance from the encampment. Captain 

 Cook suspected that it was occasioned by some of his own 

 people, and immediately armed a boat and sent on shore, 

 which soon returned with three marines and a seaman. 

 Some others belonging to the Adventure were also taken, and 

 being all put under confinement, the next morning the 

 Captain ordered them to be punished according to their 

 deserts. He did not find that any mischief was done, and 

 the people would confess nothing. The natives, however, 

 were so alarmed that they fled from their habitations in 

 the dead of the night, and the alarm spread many miles 

 along the coast. When Captain Cook went to visit Otoo in 

 the morning, by appointment, he found him removed, or 

 rather fled, many miles from the place of his abode. Even 

 there he was obliged to wait some hours before he could 

 see him at all ; and when he did, he complained of the 

 last night's riot. 



