THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
57 
have been irreparable; and though the natives had not as 1779. 
yet fhewn the fmalleft difpolition to moleft us, yet it was t Febr ^ uar> \ 
impoffible to anfwer for the alteration, which the news of 
the tranfiuftion at Kowrowa might produce. I therefore 
thought it prudent to diffemble my belief of the death of 
Captain Cook, and to delire Kaireekeea to difcourage the 
report; left either the fear of our refentment, or the fuc- 
cefsful example of their countrymen, might lead them to 
feize the favourable opportunity, which at this time of¬ 
fered itfelf, of giving us a fecond blow. At the fame time, 
I advifed him to bring old Kaoo, and the reft of the priefts, 
into a large houfe that was clofe to the Moral ; partly out of 
regard to their fafety, in cafe it fhould have been found ne- 
ceffary to proceed to extremities; and partly to have him 
near us, in order to make ufe of his authority with the peo¬ 
ple, if it could be inftrumental in preferving peace. 
Having placed the marines on the top of the Moral , 
which formed a ftrong and advantageous poft, and left 
the command with Mr. Bligh, giving him the moft pofi- 
tive diretftions to a£t entirely on the defenlive, I went on 
board the Difcovery, in order to reprefent to Captain Clerke 
the dangerous lituation of our affairs. As foon as I quit¬ 
ted the fpot, the natives began to annoy our people with 
ftones ; and I had fcarcely reached the fhip, before I heard 
the firing of the marines. I therefore returned inftantly 
on fhore, where I found things growing every moment 
more alarming. The natives were arming, and putting on 
their mats; and their numbers increafed very faft. I could 
alfo perceive feveral large bodies marching toward us, 
along the cliff which feparates the village of Kakooa from 
the North fide of the bay, where the village of Kowrowa 
is fituated. 
VOL. III. 
I 
They 
