7X8 CAPTAIN COOK ’S LAST VOYAGE.

hills, which made fome of us imagine they were removing their effects back into thecountry, in confequence of our threats. But I rather believe them to have been thefacrifices that were performing on account of the war, in which they imagined them-felves about to be engaged; and mofl probably the bodies of our flain countrymenwere at, that time burning.

We paffed the night quietly, and early the next morning, Koah came alongfide theRefolution with a prefent of cloth and a fmall pig, which he defired leave to prefentto me. I have mentioned before that I was fuppofed, by the natives, to be the fon ofCaptain Cook ; and as he in his life time had always fuffered them to believe it, Iwas probably confidered as the chief after his death. As foon as I came on deck, Iqueftioned him about the body ; and on his returning me nothing but evafive anfwers,I refufed to accept his prefents, and was going to difmifs him with fome expreffionsof anger and refentment, had not Captain Clerke , judging it belt at all events tokeep up the appearance of friendlhip, thought it more proper that he Ihould be treatedwith the ufual refpect.

This treacherous fellow came frequently to us during the courfe of the forenoonwith fome trifling prefent or other, and as I always obferved him eyeing every partof the fhip with great attention, I took care he Ihould fee we were well prepared forour defence.

He was exceedingly urgent both with Captain Clerke and myfelf to go on lhore,laying all the blame of the detention of the bodies on the other chiefs ; and affuringus that every thing might be fettled to our fatisfaclion by a perfonal interview withTerreeoboo. However, his conduct was too fufpicious to make it prudent to complywith this requeft ; and indeed a fact came afterwards to our knowledge, which provedthe entire falfehood of his pretentions. For we were told that immediately after theaction in which Captain Cook was killed, the old King had retired to a cave in thefteep part of the mountain that hangs over the bay, which was accelflble only bythe help of ropes, and where he remained for many days, having his victuals letdown to him by cords.

When Koah returned from the Ihips, we could perceive that his countrymen, whohad been colle&ed by break of day in vaft crowds on the lhore, thronged about himwith great eagernefs, as if to learn the intelligence he had acquired, and what was tobe done in confequence of it. It is very probable that they expected we Ihould at-tempt to put our threats in execution, and they feemed fully refolved to Hand theirground. During the whole morning, we heard conchs blowing in different parts ofthe coall; large parties were feen marching over the hills ; and in Ihort, the appear-ances were fo alarming, that we carried out a ftream anchor to enable us to haulthe fhip abreafl: of the town in cafe of an attack, and ftationed boats off the northpoint of the bay to prevent a furprife from that quarter.

The breach of their engagement to reftore the bodies of the flain, and the warlikepolture in which they at this time appeared, occafioned frelh debates among!! us con-cerning the meafures next to be purfued. It was at Ialh determined, that nothingIhould be fuffered to interfere with the repair of the mall, and the preparations forour departure; but that we Ihould neverthelefs continue our negociations for therecovery of the bodies.

The greateft part of the day was taken up in getting the foremaft into a properfituation on deck for the carpenters to work upon it, and in making the neceflaryalterations in the commiflions of the officers. The command of the expedition havingdevolved on Captain Clerke , he removed on board the Refolution, appointed Lieu-tenant

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