384 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



numbers round the wall of our consecrated field, and seemed 

 equally at a loss with ourselves how to account for what 

 they had seen and heard, that they should not be molested ; 

 and that, at all events, I was desirous of continuing on 

 peaceable terms with them. We remained in this posture 

 till the boats had returned on board, when Captain Clerke, 

 observing through his telescope that we were surrounded 

 by the natives, and apprehending they means to attack us, 

 ordered two four pounders to be fired at them. Fortunate- 

 ly these guns, though well aimed, did no mischief, and yet 

 gave the natives a convincing proof of their power. One of 

 the balls broke a cocoa-nut tree in the middle, under which 

 a party of them were sitting ; and the other shivered a rock 

 that stood in an exact line with them. As I had just 

 before given them the strongest assurances of their safety, I 

 was exceedingly mortified at this act of hostility, and, to 

 prevent a repetition of it, immediately despatched a boat 

 to acquaint Captain Clerke that at present I was on the 

 most friendly terms with the natives, and that, if occasion 

 should hereafter arise for altering my conduct toward them, 

 I would hoist a jack as a signal for him to afford us all the 

 assistance in his power. 



" We expected the return of the boat with the utmost 

 impatience, and after remaining a quarter of an hour under 

 the most torturing anxiety and suspense, our fears were at 

 length confirmed by the arrival of Mr. Bligh with orders to 

 strike the tents as quickly as possible, and to send the sails 

 that were repairing on board. Just at the same moment, 

 our friend Kaireekeea, having also received intelligence of 

 the death of Captain Cook from a native who had arrived 

 from the other side of the bay, came to me with great sorrow 

 anH dejection in his countenance to inquire if it was true. 



" Our situation was at this time extremely critical and im- 

 portant. Not only our own lives, but the event of the ex- 

 pedition, and the return of at least one of the ships, being 

 involved in the same common danger. We had the mast of 

 the Resolution and the greatest part of our sails on shore, 

 under the protection of only six marines their loss would 

 have been irreparable ; and though the natives had not as 

 yet shewn the smallest disposition to molest us, yet it was 

 impossible to answer for the alteration which the news of the 

 transaction at Kowrowa might produce. I therefore 

 thought it prudent to dissemble my belief of the death of 

 Captain Cook, and to desire Kaireekeea to discourage the 

 report, lest either the fear of our resentment, or the success- 

 ful example of their countrymen, might lead them to seize 

 the favourable opportunity which at this time offered 

 itself of giving us a second blow. 



