THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
yet the attempt was become abfolutely neceflary, as the 1779. 
completing our fupply of water would not admit of any t February ' 
longer delay. 
However it mull be obferved, in juftice to the conduct of 
Captain Clerke, that it was very probable, from the great 
numbers of the natives, and from the refolution with 
which they feemed to expe£t us, an attack could not have 
been made without fome danger; and that the lofs of a 
very few men might have been feverely felt by us, during 
the remaining courfe of our voyage. Whereas the delaying 
the execution of our threats, though, on the one hand, it 
leffened their opinion of our prowefs, had the effe£t of 
caufing them to difperfe, on the other. For, this day, about 
noon, finding us perfifl in our inactivity, great bodies of 
them, after blowing their conchs, and ufing every mode of 
defiance, marched off, over the hills, and never appeared 
afterward. Thofe, however, who remained, were not the 
lefs daring and infolent. One man had the audacity to 
come within mufquet- fliot, a-head of the fliip; and, after 
flinging feveral Hones at us, he waved Captain Cook’s hat 
over his head, whilft his countrymen on fhore were exult¬ 
ing, and encouraging his boldnefs. Our people were all in 
a flame at this infult, and, coming in a body on the quarter¬ 
deck, begged they might no longer be obliged to put up 
with thefe repeated provocations; and requelled me to ob¬ 
tain permiffton for them, from Captain Clerke, to avail 
themfelves of the firfl fair occafion of revenging the death 
of their Commander. On my acquainting him with what 
was palling, he gave orders for fome great guns to be fired 
at the natives on fhore; and promifed the crew, that if they 
fhould meet with any moleflation at the watering-place, 
the 
