EASTER ISLAND AND THE MARQUESAS 153 



totalled a hundred and sixty double canoes, well 

 equipped, well armed and decorated with flags 

 and pennants. The chiefs and fighting men 

 were seated on benches and clothed in their 

 fighting kit. Besides the war-vessels, there were 

 a hundred and seventy other canoes. Cook esti- 

 mated that there were nearly eight thousand 

 men in this fleet, which was shortly about to at- 

 tack the neighbouring island of Eimes. He 

 would very much have liked to see a naval battle, 

 but the chiefs seemed anxious not to start the war 

 until after the departure of the English. 



After three delightful weeks passed at Tahiti, 

 Cook resolved to set sail for Huaheine. One of 

 the gunners' mates, called Marra, who had 

 joined the Endeavour at Batavia and had been 

 willing to accompany Cook on his second voy- 

 age, so greatly appreciated the charms of the 

 enchanted island, the hospitality of its inhabi- 

 tants, and the favours of the women, that he 

 resolved to remain there. Knowing well that he 

 could not carry out his design while the ship was 

 anchored in the bay, he waited till her depar- 

 ture. When the Resolution had left the verdant 

 shores of Matavai, he leapt into the water and 

 swam towards the shore, near which a canoe 

 awaited him. The Captain lowered a boat, and 

 he was soon retaken. After having condemned 

 him to a fortnight in the cells. Cook reflected 



