THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN COOK 253 



Terreoboo seemed to consent, but each time the 

 woman and the two chiefs made him sit down 

 again and prevented his leaving. Seeing that it 

 would not be possible to carry off his hostage 

 without bloodshed, Cook abandoned his project 

 and went quietly back to the shore. While these 

 events were taking place, the noise of several 

 shots had been heard. The boats patrolling the 

 bay had fired on the canoes endeavouring to 

 leave the harbour. A rumour quickly spread 

 that a chief of the first rank had been killed by 

 the English. 



This news provoked the crowd to the most 

 lively excitement. The men sent away the 

 women and children, clothed themselves in their 

 war dress, and armed themselves with spears and 

 stones. One of them, who carried a stone and a 

 long iron knife called pahooa, went up to Cook, 

 and, brandishing his weapon, made as though 

 to throw the stone at him. Cook, with wonder- 

 ful coolness, advised him to stop his threats, but 

 as the insolence of the Hawaiian increased, he 

 fired a shot-gun charge at him. The native was 

 clothed in a mat which the shot did not pene- 

 trate. Seeing that he was not wounded, he be- 

 came more threatening still. Then Cook fired 

 the other barrel of his gun, loaded with ball, and 

 killed by mistake another native than the one 

 who had insulted him. This death was the sig- 



