had just before landed. We heard the firing
of the musketry, and could perceive some extraordinary bustle and
agitation in the multitude. We afterwards saw the natives flying,
the boats retire from the shore, and passing and repassing, in great
stillness, between the ships. I must confess, that my heart soon
misgave me. Where a life so dear and valuable was concerned, it was
impossible not to be alarmed, by appearances both new and threatening.
But, besides this, I knew that a long and uninterrupted course of
success, in his transactions with the natives of these seas, had given
the captain a degree of confidence, that I was always fearful might,
at some unlucky moment, put him too much off his guard; and I now saw
all the dangers to which that confidence might lead, without receiving
much consolation from considering the experience that had given rise
to it.[1]

[Footnote 1: This is a very happy reflection, and implies a
discriminating power and good sense, of which, it is justice to his
talents to say, Captain King has exhibited no few or inconsiderable
examples.--E.]

My first care, on hearing the muskets fired, was, to assure the
people, who had assembled in considerable numbers round the wall of
our consecrated field, and seemed equally at a loss with ourselves how
to account for what they had seen and heard, that they should not be
molested; and that, at all events, I was desirous of continuing on
peaceable terms with them. We remained in this posture till the boats
had returned on board, when Captain Clerke, observing through his
telescope, that we were surrounded by the natives, and apprehending
they meant to attack us, ordered two four-pounders to be fired at
them. Fortunately, these guns, though well aimed, did no mischief,
and yet gave the natives a convincing proof of their power. One of
the balls broke a cocoa-nut tree in the middle, under which a party
of them were sitting; and the other shivered a rock that stood in an
exact line with them. As I had just before given them the strongest
assurances of their safety, I was exceedingly mortified at this act of
hostility; and, to prevent a repetition of it, immediately dispatched
a boat to acquaint Captain Clerke, that, at present, I was on the
most friendly terms with the natives; and that, if occasion should
hereafter arise for altering my conduct toward them, I would hoist
a jack, as a signal for him to afford us all the assistance in his
power.

We exp