y of informing ourselves whether they were
cannibals; and we did not neglect it. We first tried, by many indirect
questions, put to each of them apart, to learn in what manner the rest
of the bodies had been disposed of; and finding them very constant in
one story, that, after the flesh had been cut off, it was all burnt,
we at last put the direct question, whether they had not eat some of
it? They immediately shewed as much horror at the idea as any European
would have done; and asked, very naturally, if that was the custom
amongst us? They afterward asked us, with great earnestness and
apparent apprehension, "When the _Orono_ would come again; and what he
would do to them on his return?" The same enquiry was frequently made
afterward by others; and this idea agrees with the general tenor of
their conduct toward him, which shewed that they considered him as a
being of a superior nature.

We pressed our two friendly visitors to remain on board till morning,
but in vain. They told us, that if this transaction should come to the
knowledge of the king, or chiefs, it might be attended with the most
fatal consequences to their whole society; in order to prevent which
they had been obliged to come off to us in the dark; and that the same
precaution would be necessary in returning on shore. They informed
us farther, that the chiefs were eager to revenge the death of their
countrymen; and particularly cautioned us against trusting Koah, who,
they said, was our mortal and implacable enemy; and desired nothing
more ardently than an opportunity of fighting us; to which the blowing
of the conchs, we heard in the morning, was meant as a challenge.

We learned from these men, that seventeen of their countrymen were
killed in the first action at Kowrowa, of whom five were chiefs;
and that Kaneena and his brother, our very particular friends, were
unfortunately of that number. Eight, they said, were killed at the
observatory, three of whom were also of the first rank.

About eleven o'clock our two friends left us, and took the precaution
to desire, that our guard-boat might attend them, till they had passed
the Discovery, lest they should again be fired upon, which might alarm
their countrymen on shore, and expose them to the danger of
being discovered. This request was complied with; and we had the
satisfaction to find, that they got safe and undiscovered to land.

During the remainder of this night, we heard the same loud howling