180 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



bolder, and at last came under their stern, and made some 

 exchanges. The people in one of the first canoes, after 

 coining as near as they durst, threw towards them some 

 cocoa-nuts. The Captain went into a boat and picked them 

 up, giving them in return some cloth and other articles. 

 This induced others to come under the stern and alongside, 

 where their behaviour was insolent and daring. They 

 wanted to carry off everything within their reach ; they 

 got hold of the fly of the ensign, and would have torn it from 

 the staff. A few muskets fired in the air had no effect ; 

 but a four pounder frightened them so much that they, 

 quitted their canoes that instant and took to the water. 

 But as soon as they found themselves unhurt, they got 

 again into their canoes, gave them some halloos, flourished 

 their weapons, and returned once more to the buoys. This 

 put them to the expense of a few musketoon balls, which 

 had the desired effect, without killing any of them. 



Towards the evening, Captain Cook landed at the head of 

 the harbour with a strong party of men, without any opposi- 

 tion being made by a great number of the natives, who 

 were assembled in two parties, the one on the right, the 

 other on the left, all armed. After distributing to the old 

 people (for they could distinguish no chief) and some others 

 presents of cloth, medals, etc., he ordered two casks to 

 be filled with water out of a pond, about twenty paces 

 behind the landing-place, giving the natives to understand 

 that this was one 'of the articles they wanted. Besides 

 water, they got from them a few cocoa-nuts, which seemed 

 to be in plenty on the trees ; but they could not be prevailed 

 upon to part with any of their weapons. These they held 

 in constant readiness, and in the proper attitudes of offence 

 and defence, so that little was wanting to make them 

 attack them. Their early re-embarking probably discon- 

 certed their scheme, and after that they all retired. 



While they were bringing the ship nearer the shore, to 

 wood and water, they observed the natives assembling from 

 all parts, and forming themselves into two parties, as they 

 did the preceding evening, one on each side of the landing- 

 place, to the amount of some thousands, armed as before. 

 A canoe now and then came off, bringing a few cocoa-nuts 

 or plantains. Captain Cook made an old man, who seemed 

 well-disposed, understand, by signs, that they were to lay 

 aside their weapons, and throwing those which were in the 

 canoe overboard, made him a present of a large piece of 

 cloth. There was no doubt that he understood him, and 

 made this request known to his countrymen ; for as soon as 

 he landed, they observed him go first to the one party, and 

 then to the other ; nor was he ever after seen with anything 



