captain cook’s first voyage.

526

fome of their boys, went up to a few fmall houfes which they faw at a little diftance.Taking the advantage of their abfence from the boat, fome of the^ natives, who hadconcealed themfelves behind the bulhes, fuddenly rufhed out, and ran towards it,brandifliing the long wooden lances which they had in their hands in a threateningmanner. The cockfwain fired a mufquetoon over their heads, which did not feem tointimidate them; he then fired a fecond time over their heads, but with no bettereffect; alarmed at the fituation of the boat, as they were now got near enough todifcharge their lances at it, the cockfwain levelled his piece at them, and fhot one mandead on the fpot. Struck with aflonifhment at the fall of their companion, they re-treated to the woods with the utmoft precipitation. ,The report of the gun foon broughtthe advanced party back to the boats, and both the pinnace and the yawl immediatelyreturned to the fhip.

On Monday the 9th, in the morning, a great number of the natives were feen nearthe place where the gentlemen in the yawl had landed the preceding evening, and thegreateft part of them appeared to be unarmed. The long-boat, pinnace, and yawl,being ordered out, and manned with marines and failors, Captain Cook , together withMr. Banks , the reft of the gentlemen and Tupia went on fhore, and landed on theoppofite fide of the river, over againft feveral Indians who were fitting on theground.

They ftarted up as foon as the gentlemen began to land, and their intentions ap-peared very hoftile, brandifliing their weapons in the ufual threatening manner; upon•which a mufket was fired at fome diftance from them, at the effedl of which, the ballhappening to ftrike the water, they appeared rather terrified, and defifted from theirmenaces. The marines being drawn up, the captain, with four or five of the gentle-men and Tupia, advanced nearer to the fide of the river; Tupia fpoke to them, andinformed them, that they wanted to traffic with them for provifions. They readilyconfented to trade, and requefted the Englifh gentlemen to crofs the river and corneover to them ; which was agreed to, upon condition that the natives would quit theirweapons; but this the moft folemn affurances of friendfhip could not prevail 011them to comply with.

The gentlemen in their turn intreated the Indians to come over to them, whichafter fome time they prevailed on one of them to do; he was prefently followed byfeveral others, bringing their weapons with them. They did not appear to fet anygreat value on the beads, iron, &c. which was prefented to them, nor would they g iveany thing in return, but propofed to exchange their weapons for thofe belonging t0the Englifh, which being consequently objected to, they endeavoured feveral times tofnatch them out of their hands. But their attempts to feize the arms were repeatedlyfruftrated, and Tupia, by direction of the gentlemen, gave them notice, that any f UJ>ther offer of violence would be punifhed with inftant death. One of them had, ne-verthflefs, the audacity -to fnatch Mr. Green’s hanger, and retiring a few paces,rifhed it over his head; he, however, paid for his temerity with his life, Mr. Monk"houfe firing at him with a mufquet loaded with ball; and that gentleman afterwards,with great difficulty recovered the hanger, one of the Indians endeavouring to feize

This behaviour, of the natives, added to the want of frefh water, induced CaptainCook to continue his courfe round the head of the bay. He was ftill in hopes 0getting fome of the Indians on board, and by prefents added to civil ufage, conV f^through them a favourable idea of the Englilh to their fellow-countrymen; and there yfettle a good correfpondence with them. Soon after an event occurred,attended with difagreeable circumftances, that promifed to facilitate this defign. A ^