let down, to afford such privacy as the habits of the
people in that genial climate required.

All this time none of the principal persons of the island had made their
appearance. After the ship had been there a couple of days, two chiefs,
Matahah and Tootahah, came off, the first fixing on Mr Banks as his
friend, and the latter on Captain Cook. The ceremony of making friends
was gone through. It consisted in the natives taking off the greater
part of their clothing and putting on that of their visitors. Their
dress was formed of the bark made from the paper mulberry-tree. Captain
Cook, Mr Banks, and others went on shore with their new friends, where
they met another chief named Tabourai-Tamaide, and formed a treaty of
friendship with him.

During a feast with which he entertained his visitors, Dr Solander and
Mr Monkhouse found that their pockets had been picked, the one of an
opera-glass, the other of his snuffbox. The chief showed his concern,
and offered several pieces of native cloth as a compensation. This,
however, was refused. The chief going out, by the aid of a sage woman,
recovered the articles, and restored them to their owners.

One of the first objects to be attained was the erection of a fort, to
protect the astronomical instruments. The spot was soon fixed upon,
away from the habitations of the natives, and a party of men sent on
shore to commence operations. While the principal officers were away, a
number of people gathered round to watch what was going on, and one of
them, rushing forward, seized a sentry's musket, and made off with it.
Without consideration, a midshipman ordered the marines to fire, which
they did, but did not hit the thief. He, however, being pursued, was at
length shot dead.

Notwithstanding this, the chiefs behaved with great moderation, and
seemed satisfied that the act was not in consequence of any hostile
feeling, though death was far too severe a punishment for the crime the
man had committed.

Cook was greatly annoyed at this incident. He considered it prudent,
however, to warp the ship closer in, to protect his people while engaged
on shore, as he feared, in consequence of no natives coming near the
ship, that they might be attacked. Before long, however, the natives
got over their alarm, and brought propitiatory gifts of the usual green
boughs. So confident was Cook of their good feeling that he allowed his
officers to make excursions into the country.