62 AVOYAGETOTHE 



Many canoes now came along-fide, and the people 

 were very importunate to come on board ; they behaved in 

 May* a very daring infolent manner ; and it was with difficulty 

 " ^^ ^ ' they were prevailed on to quit the fhip ; however, I bore 

 all this with patience, being unwilling to ufe violence if it 

 could poffibly be avoided ; though at the fame time I was 

 much afraid from thefe appearances, that we fhould not 

 be able to do our bufinefs at Karakakooa with eafe and 

 fafety, particularly to fill our water and get the fick people 

 on fbore. 



As we approached the harbour, great numbers of canoes 

 joined us, and many of them hanging by the fhip, re- 

 tarded our progrefs fo much, that it was near four o'clock 

 in the afternoon before we came to an anchor. I moored 

 with the beft bower to the Weftward in nine fathom water, 

 over a bottom of white fand, and the fpare anchor to the 

 Eaftward, in feven fathom, over the fame bottom. The 

 Weft point of the bay bore Weft, and the South point 

 South half Weft, diftant from the beach at the bottom 

 of the bay about a quarter of a mile. 



Soon after our anchor was gone, we were furrounded 

 by an amazing number of the natives, both in canoes and 

 in the water ; they grew very troublefome, conftantiy 

 crawling up the cable and the fhip's fides ; fo that moft of 

 the feamen were employed in keeping the vefiel clear, and 

 it was not without fome difficulty that we got moored. 



During this time no chief who had any command on 

 the people made his appearance, which was rather unfor- 

 tunate ; for if I could have got a perfon of confequence 



on 



