A VOYAGE TO 
6z 
, 1779. them with our vengeance in cafe of a refufal; but, by no 
^lekuar)^ means> to p re un ]£f s attacked ; and not to land on any ac¬ 
count whatever. Thefe orders were delivered to me before 
the whole party, and in the moffc pofitive manner. 
I left the Aiips about four o’clock in the afternoon; and, 
as we approached the fhore, I perceived every indication of 
a hoftile reception. The whole crowd of natives was in 
motion ; the women and children retiring; the men put¬ 
ting on their war mats, and arming themfelves with long 
fpears and daggers. We alfo obferved, that, fince the morn¬ 
ing, they had thrown up ftone breaft-works along the 
beach, where Captain Cook had landed ; probably in expec¬ 
tation of an attack at that place ; and, as foon as we were 
within reach, they began to throw Hones at us with flings, 
but without doing any mifchief. Concluding, therefore, 
that all attempts to bring them to a parley would be in vain, 
unlefs I firfh gave them fome ground for mutual confidence; 
I ordered the armed boats to flop, and went on, in the 
fmall boat, alone, with a white flag in my hand, which, by 
a general cry of joy from the natives, I had the fatisfadlion 
to find was inftantly underftood. The women immediately 
returned from the fide of the hill, whither they had retired; 
the men threw off their mats; and all fat down together by 
the water-fide, extending their arms, and inviting me to 
come on fhore. 
Though this behaviour was very expreflive of a friendly 
difpofition, yet I could not help entertaining fome fufpicions 
of its fincerity. But when I faw Koah, with a boldnefs and 
aflurance altogether unaccountable, fwimming off toward 
the boat, with a white flag in his hand, I thought it ne- 
ceflary to return this mark of confidence, and therefore re¬ 
ceived him into the boat, though armed; a circumftance 
which 
