388 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



our very particular friends, were unfortunately of that 

 number. Eight, they said, were killed at the observatory, 

 three of whom were also of the first rank. 



" During the remainder of this night, we heard loud 

 howling and lamentations. Early in the morning we 

 received another visit from Koah. I must confess I was a 

 little piqued to find that, notwithstanding the most evident 

 marks of treachery in his conduct, and the positive testi- 

 mony of our friends the priests, he should still be permitted 

 to carry on the same farce, and to make us appear to be the 

 dupes of his hypocrisy. Indeed our situation was become 

 extremely awkward and unpromising ; none of the purposes 

 for which this pacific course of proceeding had been adopted 

 having hitherto been in the least forwarded by it. 



" This day a man had the audacity to come within 

 musket-shot, ahead of the ship, and after flinging several 

 stones at us, he waved Captain Cook's hat over his head, 

 whilst his countrymen on shore were exulting and encourag- 

 ing his boldness. Our people were all in a flame at this 

 insult, and coming in a body on the quarter-deck, begged 

 they might no longer be obliged to put up with these 

 repeated provocations, and requested me to obtain per- 

 mission for them from Captain Clerke to avail themselves of 

 the first fair occasion of revenging the death of their com- 

 mander. On my acquainting him with what was passing, 

 he gave orders for some great guns to be fired at the natives 

 on shore, and promised the crew, that if they should meet 

 with any molestation at the watering-place the next day, 

 they should then be left at liberty to chastise them. 



" It is somewhat remarkable, that before we could bring 

 our guns to bear, the islanders had suspected our intentions 

 from the stir they saw in the ship, and had retired behind 

 their houses and walls. We were therefore obliged to fire 

 in some measure at random ; notwithstanding which, our 

 shot produced all the effects that could have been desired. 

 For soon after, we saw Koah paddling towards us with 

 extreme haste, and on his arrival we learned that some 

 people had been killed, and amongst the rest Maiha-maiha, 

 a principal chief, and a near relation to the king. 



" At night the usual precautions were taken for the 

 security of the ships ; and as soon as it was dark, our 

 two friends, who had visited us the night before, came off 

 again. They assured us, that though the effect of our great 

 guns this afternoon had terrified the chiefs exceedingly, 

 they had by no means laid aside their hostile intentions, 

 and advised us to be on our guard. 



" The next morning the boats of both ships were sent 

 ashore for water ; and the Discovery was warped close to 



