lors struck him with
an oar. Pareah instantly quitted the officer, snatched the oar out of
the man's hand, and snapped it in two across his knee. At length
the multitude began to attack our people with stones. They made some
resistance, but were soon overpowered, and obliged to swim for safety
to the small cutter, which lay farther out than the pinnace. The
officers, not being expert swimmers, retreated to a small rock in the
water, where they were closely pursued by the Indians. One man darted
a broken oar at the master, but his foot slipping at the time, he
missed him, which fortunately saved that officer's life. At last,
Pareah interfered, and put an end to their violence. The gentlemen,
knowing that his presence was their only defence against the fury of
the natives, entreated him to stay with them till they could get off
in the boats; but that he refused, and left them. The master went
to seek assistance from the party at the observatories; but the
midshipman chose to remain in the pinnace. He was very rudely treated
by the mob, who plundered the boat of every thing that was loose on
board, and then began to knock her to pieces for the sake of the
iron work; but Pareah fortunately returned in time to prevent
her destruction. He had met the other gentleman on his way to the
observatories, and, suspecting his errand, had forced him to return.
He dispersed the crowd again, and desired the gentlemen to return on
board. They represented that all their oars had been taken out of the
boat; on which he brought some of them back, and the gentlemen were
glad to get off, without farther molestation. They had not proceeded
far, before they were overtaken by Pareah, in a canoe. He delivered
the midshipman's cap, which had been taken from him in the scuffle,
joined noses with them, in token of reconciliation, and was anxious
to know if Captain Cook would kill him for what had happened. They
assured him of the contrary, and made signs of friendship to him in
return. He then left them, and paddled over to the town of Kavaroah,
and that was the last time we ever saw him. Captain Cook returned on
board soon after, much displeased with the whole of this disagreeable
business; and the same night sent a lieutenant on board the Discovery
to learn the particulars of it, as it had originated in that ship. It
was remarkable, that in the midst of the hurry and confusion
attending this affair, Kanynah (a chief who had always been on terms
pa