hose it were suffered to assist in filling the casks. Having left
things quiet here, I went to meet Captain Cook, whom I saw coming on
shore in the pinnace. I related to him what had just passed; and he
ordered me, in case of their beginning to throw stones, or behave
insolently, immediately to fire a ball at the offenders. I accordingly
gave orders to the corporal, to have the pieces of the sentinels
loaded with ball, instead of small shot.

Soon after our return to the tents, we were alarmed by a continued
fire of muskets from the Discovery, which we observed to be directed
at a canoe that we saw paddling toward the shore in great haste,
pursued by one of our small boats. We immediately concluded that the
firing was in consequence of some theft, and Captain Cook ordered
me to follow him with a marine armed, and to endeavour to seize the
people as they came on shore. Accordingly, we ran toward the place
where we supposed the canoe would land, but were too late; the people
having quitted it, and made their escape into the country before our
arrival.

We were at this time ignorant that the goods had been already
restored; and as we thought it probable, from the circumstances we had
at first observed, that they might be of importance, were unwilling to
relinquish our hopes of recovering them. Having, therefore, enquired
of the natives, which way the people had fled, we followed them till
it was near dark, when, judging ourselves to be about three miles from
the tents, and suspecting that the natives, who frequently encouraged
us in the pursuit, were amusing us with false information, we thought
it in vain to continue our search any longer, and returned to the
beach.

During our absence, a difference of a more serious and unpleasant
nature had happened. The officer, who had been sent in the small boat,
and was returning on board, with the goods which had been restored,
observing Captain Cook and me engaged in the pursuit of the offenders,
thought it his duty to seize the canoe, which was left drawn up on the
shore. Unfortunately, this canoe belonged to Pareea, who, arriving
at the same moment from on board the Discovery, claimed his property,
with many protestations of his innocence. The officer refusing to give
it up, and being joined by the crew of the pinnace, which was waiting
for Captain Cook, a scuffle ensued, in which Pareea was knocked down,
by a violent blow on the head, with an oar. The natives, who were
coll