^4 AVOYAGETOTHE 



^ ^\y^ ^- determined to leave Karakakooa as foon as poflible. I 



»- — "— -* acquainted captain Dixon with my intention of failing, 



May.* and the reafons I had for it : his opinion refpeding the 



Saturday 27. (jjfpQf^fion of the inhabitants exadly agreed with my own. 



Notwithstanding the vaft concoiirfe of Indians that 

 were alTembled about the fhips, we faw great numbers col- 

 ledled in bodies on fhore ; fome on the beach, and others 

 on the top of a hill which commands the watering-place ; 

 and there appeared to be many chiefs among them. 



At nine o'clock I gave orders to unmoor, but the crowd 

 of people around the fhip was fo great, that our boats 

 could fcarcely pafs to the buoys : in this fituation it was 

 abfolutely neceffary for us to drive them away, and I was 

 delirous of ufing fome method that would frighten, with- 

 out hurting them ; accordingly, after drawing out the 

 Ihot, we fired fix four-pounders and fix fwivels ; at the 

 fame time our colours were hoifted, and the fhip tabooed, 

 by hoifting a white flag at the main-topgallant-maft-head : 

 this had the defired effeft ; for, immediately on our be- 

 ginning to fire, the Indians made for the fhore with the 

 utmofi: precipitation ; in the hurry and confufion oc- 

 cafioned by this alarm, many canoes were overfet ; the 

 owners, however, did not flay to right them, but fwam 

 immediately on fhore. 



We now had an opportunity of unmooring without mo- 

 leftation, and foon after eleven o'clock, having light 

 baffling winds, began to warp out of the bay to the Weft- 

 ward ; at five o'clock, judging myfelf in a good fituation 

 to wait for the land-breeze, which ufually blows off to- 

 wards 



