64 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779- the body would certainly be reftored to me. When they 
»- — u —' found they could not prevail on me to land, they attempt¬ 
ed, under a pretence of wifhing to converfe with more 
eafe, to decoy our boat among fome rocks, where they 
would have had it in their power to cut us off from the 
reft. It was no difficult matter to fee through thefe arti¬ 
fices ; and I was, therefore, ftrongly inclined to break off 
all further communication with them, when a Chief came 
to us, who was the particular friend of Captain Clerke, 
and of the officers of the Difcovery, on board which fliip 
he had failed, when we laft left the bay, intending to take 
his paffage to Mowee. He told us, he came from Terreeo- 
boo to acquaint us, that the body was carried up the 
country; but that it fhould be brought to us the next 
morning. There appeared a great deal of fincerity in his 
manner ; and being afked, if he told a falfehood, he hook¬ 
ed his two fore-fingers together, which is underftood 
amongft thefe iflanders as the fign of truth; in the ufe of 
which they are very fcrupulous. 
As I was now at a lofs in what manner to proceed, I fent 
Mr. Vancouver to acquaint Captain Clerke with all that had 
paffed; that my opinion was, they meant not to keep their 
word with us, and were fo far from being forry at what had 
happened, that, on the contrary, they were full of fpirits 
and confidence on account of their late fuccefs, and fought 
only to gain time, till they could contrive fome fcheme for 
getting us into their power. Mr. Vancouver came back 
with orders for me to return on board; having firft given 
the natives to underftand, that, if the body was not brought 
the next morning, the town fhould be deftroyed. 
When they faw that we were going off, they endeavoured 
to provoke us by the moft infulting and contemptuous gef- 
tures. 
