PREFACE. 



JLt 



to question the truth of the foregoing, solely on the 

 ground of" the well-known humanity of the gene- 

 rous Commander." What that humanity was, the 

 reader will, it is presumed, pretty well comprehend 

 by this time, and receive the excuse with the con- 

 tempt it merits. 



As a case in point, the author will extract from 

 the text of this same compiler, who affects to doubt 

 the foregoing, on the score of Capt. Cook's well- 

 known humanity," the following account of the pu- 

 nishment inflicted on a native for stealing a sextant. 



As the thief," says the compiler, appeared to be 

 a shameless villain, the Commodore (Cook) pu- 

 nished him with greater severity than he had ever 

 done any former culprit ; for, besides having his 

 head and beard shaved, he ordered both his ears to 

 be cut off, and his eyebrows to be flead." " The 

 natives," he continues, " looked with horror upon 

 the man ; and it was easy to perceive that this act 

 gave them general disgust."^ 



" The next morning one of the natives, who had 

 attempted to steal a water-cask from our tents, was 

 apprehended and confined. Otoo and Towhah^ 

 coming on board somewhat early, accompanied 

 Capt. Cook ashore to see him punished. He was 

 tied to a pole ; and, with their consent, received 

 two dozen of very severe lashes.^^^ 



Capt. Cook, on one occasion, had formed a de- 

 sign of " surprising" some of the natives of New- 

 Zealand, with a view of gaining their confidence, 

 and thus opening an intercourse with the people on 

 shore. A boat appeared ; and, being within hail, 

 " Tupia called upon them to come alongside, with 

 assurances that they should not, in any degree, be 

 hurt or injured. They trusted, however, more ta 



" Cook's Third Voyage, Collection, vol 5. p. 1596, 

 + Forster, vol. 2. p. 7ft. 



