THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
75 
I have already mentioned, that orders had been given to 1779. 
burn only a few ftraggling huts, which afforded fhelter to 
the natives. We were therefore a good deal furprized to 
lee the whole village on fire ; and before a boat, that was 
fent to flop the progrefs of the mifchief, could reach the 
Ihore, the houfes of our old and conftant friends, the priefts, 
were all in flames. I cannot enough lament the illnefs, 
that confined me on board this day. The priefts had al¬ 
ways been under my protection; and, unluckily, the officers 
who were then on duty, having been feldom on fhore at the 
Moral , were not much acquainted with the circumftances of 
the place. Had I been prefent myfelf, I might probably 
have been the means of faving their little fociety from de- 
ffruCtion. 
Several of the natives were Ihot, in making their efcape 
from the flames; and our people cut off the heads of two 
of them, and brought them on board. The fate of one 
poor iflander was much lamented by us all. As he was 
coming to the well for water, he was Ihot at by one of the 
marines. The ball flruck his calibafh, which he immedi¬ 
ately threw from him and fled. He was purfued into one 
of the caves I have before defcribed, and no lion could have 
defended his den with greater courage and fiercenefs; till 
at laft, after having kept two of our people at bay, for a 
conflderable time, he expired, covered with wounds. It "was 
this accident, that firft brought us acquainted with the ufe 
of thefe caverns. 
At this time, an elderly man was taken prifoner, bound, 
and fent on board in the fame boat with the heads of his 
two countrymen. I never faw horror fo ftrongly pictured, 
as in the face of this man, nor fo violent a tranfition to 
extravagant joy, as when he was untied, and told he might 
L 2 go 
