6l2

CAPTAIN COOK’S SECOND VOYAGE.

troops to go through their exercife on fhore. Two parties firft began with clubs, butthis was over almoft as foon as begun ; fo that they had no time to make obfervations.They then went to fingle combat, and exhibited the various methods of fighting withgreat alertnefs ; parrying off the blows and pufhes, which each combatant aimed atthe other, with great dexterity. Their arms were clubs and fpears ; the latter they alfolife as darts. In fighting with the club, all blows intended to be given the legs, wereevaded by leaping over it; and thofe intended for the head, by couching a little, andleaping on one fide ; thus the blow would fall to the ground.

Their treatment at this ifle was fuch as had induced one of the gunner’s mates toform a plan to remain at it. He knew he could not execute it with fuccefs while theylay in the bay, therefore took the opportunity, as foon as they were out, the boats in,and fails fet, to flip overboard, being a good fwimmer. But he w'as difcovered beforehe got clear of the {hip ; and they prefently hoifted a boat out, and took him up. Acanoe was obfefved, about half-way between the boat and the fiiore, feemingly comingafter them. She was intended to take him up ; but as foon as the people in her fawthe boat, they kept at a diftance. This was a pre-concerted plan between the man andthem, which Otoo was acquainted with, and had encouraged. He was an Irifhman bybirth, and had failed in the Dutch fcrvice. The captain picked him up at Batavia onhis return from his former voyage, and he had been with him ever fince. He neverlearnt that he had either friends or connexions, to confine him to any particular part ofthe world. All nations w’ere alike to him. Where then could fuch a man be morehappy than at one of thefe files ? "Where, in one of the fineft climates in the world,he could enjoy not only the neceffaries, but the luxuries of life, in eafe and plenty.

The two goats which Captain Furneaux gave to Otoo when they were laft here,feemed to promife fair for anfwering the end for which they were put on fhore. T-heewe foon after had two female kids, which were now fo far grown as to be nearly readyto propagate; and the old ewe was again with kid. The people feemed to be very fondof them, and they to like their fituation as well; for they were in excellent condition.From this circumflance it may be hoped that, in a few years, they will have fome tofpare to their neighbours ; and, by that means, they may in time fpread over all thefiles in this ocean. The fheep which they left, died foon after, excepting one, whichthey underftood was yet alive. They have alfo furnifhed them with a flock of cats }no lefs than twenty having been given away at this file.

At one o’clock in the afternoon on the 15th of May, they anchored in the northentrance of O’Wharre Harbour, in the ifland of Huaheine; hoifted out the boats,warped into a proper birth, and moored.

Oree, the chief, brought a hog and other articles to the captain, who, in return, n 1 'vited him and his friends to dinner. Next day Mr. Fofter and his party being out 10the country botanizing, his fervant, a feeble man, was befet by five or fix fellows, wnwould have ftripped him, if, that moment, one of the party had not come to his afhance ; after which they made of with a hatchet they had got from him. # £

On the 17th, the Captain went afhore to look for the chief, in order to compla* 11 0the outrage committed as above ; but he was not in the neighbourhood. Being afhotcin the afternoon, a perfon came and told him Oree wanted to fee him. He went witthe man, and was conducted to a large houfe, where the chief and feveral other P erfons of note were affembled in council, as well as he could underftand. After hefeated, the chief began to affure him, that neither he, nor any one prefent, (whicwere the principal chiefs in the neighbourhood) had any hand in it; and defired iwto kill with the guns, all thofe who had. The captain knew fair means would ne ^ e