ing more daring and resolute, observed,
that if he were to take the king off by force, he could not do it
without sacrificing the lives of many of his people. He then paused a
little, and was on the point of giving his orders to reimbark, when a
man threw a stone at him, which he returned with a discharge of small
shot (with which one barrel of his double piece was loaded.) The
man having a thick mat before him, received little or no hurt; he
brandished his spear, and threatened to dart it at Captain Cook, who
being still unwilling to take away his life, instead of firing with
ball, knocked him down with his musket. He expostulated strongly with
the most forward of the crowd, upon their turbulent behaviour. He had
given up all thoughts of getting the king on board, as it appeared
impracticable; and his care was then only to act on the defensive, and
to secure a safe embarkation for his small party, which was closely
pressed by a body of several thousand people. Keowa, the king's son,
who was in the pinnace, being alarmed on hearing the first fire, was,
at his own entreaty, put on shore again; for even at that time, Mr
Roberts, who commanded her, did not apprehend that Captain Cook's
person was in any danger; otherwise he would have detained the prince,
which, no doubt, would have been a great check on the Indians. One
man was observed, behind a double canoe, in the action of darting
his spear at Captain Cook, who was forced to fire at him in his own
defence, but happened to kill another close to him, equally forward in
the tumult; the serjeant observing that he had missed the man he aimed
at, received orders to fire at him, which he did, and killed him. By
this time, the impetuosity of the Indians was somewhat repressed;
they fell back in a body, and seemed staggered; but being pushed on
by those behind, they returned to the charge, and poured a volley of
stones among the marines, who, without waiting for orders, returned it
with a general discharge of musquetry, which was instantly followed by
a fire from the boats. At this Captain Cook was heard to express his
astonishment; he waved his hand to the boats, called to them to cease
firing, and to come nearer in to receive the marines. Mr Roberts
immediately brought the pinnace as close to the shore as he could,
without grounding, notwithstanding the showers of stones that fell
among the people; but ----, the lieutenant, who commanded in the
launch, instead of pulling in t