CHAPTER III 



NEW ZEALAND AGAIN. FRESH DISCOVERIES 



The two ships had scarcely anchored before 

 they were surrounded by a fleet of canoes. Cook 

 recognised a large number of New Zealanders, 

 but in spite of the marks of friendship which 

 they heaped upon him, they refused to come on 

 board. It was clear that they dreaded the ven- 

 geance of the great stranger chief who could not 

 ignore the assassination of his countrymen. 

 Cook assured them that he wished them no ill 

 and was not thinking of punishing them. This 

 promise produced its effect, and the Maoris lost 

 their reserve. However, Cook, with a view to 

 the protection of the men working on shore, had 

 mounted a guard of ten men and had issued arms 

 to all the workmen. It was the first time that he 

 had taken such precautions, but he distrusted 

 these savage natives, who, before Captain Fur- 

 neaux's ten men, had, in 1772, in the Bay of 

 Islands, massacred Captain Marion du Fresne 

 and several of his men. 



When the confidence of the Maoris had been 

 regained, a large number of them established 

 themselves close to the camp which the English- 



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