THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
37 
this time, very fufpicious in the behaviour of the natives; 
and that the interdiction of all intercourfe with us, on pre¬ 
tence of the king’s abfence, was only to give, him time to 
confult with his Chiefs, in what manner it might be proper 
to treat us. Whether thefe fufpicions were well founded, 
or the account given by the natives was the truth, we were 
never able to afcertain. For though it is not improbable, 
that our fudden return, for which they could fee no appa¬ 
rent caufe, and the neceffity of which we afterward found 
it very difficult to make them comprehend, might occafion 
fome alarm; yet the unfufpicious conduct of Terreeoboo, 
who, on his fuppofed arrival, the next morning, came im¬ 
mediately to vffit Captain Cook, and the confequent return 
of the natives to their former friendly intercourfe with us, 
are ftrong proofs, that they neither meant, nor apprehend¬ 
ed, any change of conduct. 
In fupport of this opinion, I may add the account of 
another accident, precifely of the fame kind, which hap¬ 
pened to us on our firft vifit, the day before the arrival 
of the king. A native had fold a hog on board the Refo- 
lution, and taken the price agreed on, when Pareea, paffi- 
ing by, advifed the man not to part with the hog, without 
an advanced price. For this, he was ffiarply fpoken to, 
and puffied away; and the taboo being foon after laid on 
the bay, we had at firft no doubt, but that it was in confe- 
quence of the offence given to the Chief. Both thefe ac¬ 
cidents ferve to ffiew, how very difficult it is to draw any 
certain conclufion from the actions of people, with whofe 
cuftoms, as well as language, we are fo imperfectly ac¬ 
quainted ; at the fame time, fome idea may be formed 
from them, of the difficulties, at the firft view, perhaps, 
not very apparent, which thofe have to encounter, who, 
in 
x 779* 
February. 
