RAPA. 
369 
ceeded in detaching the natives from the vessel. 
Some of them seemed quite unconscious of the 
keenness of the knife, and, I believe, had their 
hands deeply cut by snatching or grasping at the 
blade. A proposal was now made to entice or 
admit some on board, and take two of them to 
Tahiti, that the Missionaries there might become 
acquainted with their language, gain a knowledge 
of the productions of their island, impart unto 
them Christian instruction, and thus prepare the 
way for the introduction of Christianity among 
their countrymen, as well as open a channel for 
commercial intercourse. Our captain offered to 
bring them to their native island again, on his 
return from the Marquesas; and, could their con¬ 
sent have been by any means obtained, I should, 
without hesitation, have acceded to the plan ; but, 
as we had no means of effecting this object, I did 
not conceive it right to take them from their native 
island by force. 
On a former voyage, about two years before this 
period, Captain Powel had been becalmed near 
the shores of this island. Many of the natives 
came off in their canoes, but did not venture on 
board ; perceiving, however, a hawser hanging out 
of the stern of the ship, about fifty of them leaped 
into the sea, and, grasping the rope with one hand, 
began swimming with the other, labouring and 
shouting with all their might, as they supposed 
they were drawing the vessel towards the shore. 
Their clamour attracted the attention of the sea¬ 
men, and it was found no easy matter, even when 
all hands were employed, to draw in the rope. 
While the greater part of the crew were thus 
engaged, a seaman leaning over the stern with a 
cutlass in his hand, so terrified the natives, that, as 
in, 2 B 
