REVENGE FOR COOK'S DEATH. 509 



except what belonged to the trunk, were in the possession of 

 Tereoboo 



The natives on shore passed the night in feasts and re- 

 joicings, seeking evidently to animate and inflame their courage 

 previous to the expected collision. The next day, about noon, 

 finding the English persist in their inactivity, great bodies of 

 them, blowing their conch-shells and strutting about upon the 

 shore in a blustering and defiant manner, marched off over the 

 hills and never appeared again. Those who remained com- 

 pensated for the paucity of their numbers by the insolence of 

 their conduct. One man came within musket-shot of the 

 Resolution and waved Cook's hat over his head, his country- 

 men upon the water's edge exulting in his taunts and jeers. 

 The watering-party sent upon their daily duty were annoyed 

 to such an extent that they only obtained one cask of water in 

 an afternoon. An attack upon the village was in consequence 

 decided upon, and was executed by the marines in a vigorous 

 and effective manner. A sanguinary revenge was taken for 

 the death of their commander : many of the islanders were 

 slain, and their huts were burned to the ground. This severe 

 lesson was necessary, for the natives were strongly of opinion 

 that the English tolerated their provocations because they 

 were unable to suppress them, and not from motives of hu- 

 manity. At last, a chief named Eappo, a man of the very 

 first consequence, came with presents from Tereoboo to sue for 

 peace. The presents were received, but answer was returned 

 that, until the remains of Captain Cook were restored, no peace 

 would be granted. 



On Saturday, the 20th, a long procession was seen to descend 

 the hill toward the beach. Each man carried a sugarcane or 

 two upon his shoulders, with bread-fruit and plantains in his 

 hand. They were preceded by two drummers, who planted a 

 staff with a white flag upon it by the water's edge and drummed 

 vigorously, while the rest advanced one by one and deposited 



