WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th: "... It is three Years to day since the two Ships were put in Commission & we can as yet but say that the Voyage may be about half out; however we are all in good Health & Spirits, we have only lost 3 Men by sickness and as many by Accidents in the two Ships, and tho' we have still a long prospect before us and an arduous Undertaking in hand yet when we consider the Man who is to lead us through it we all agree that Nil desperandum Teucro Duce et Auspice Teucro".
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11th: "About 9 o'Clock we came to an Anchor in our old birth in Kerag-egooa Bay, the Resolution being there an hour or two before us. We had but few Canoes about us in Comparison to the great number we had about us on our first coming into this bay. The Resolution busy in striking her topmasts & preparing to send her foremast on shore to be repaired. Most of our old sweethearts came to see us".
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12th: "The ships were put under a taboo on Account of Kariopoo paying his first visit to day, who arrived here & brought several Presents for Captain Cook. No Girls were suffered to come on board".
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13th: "This morning the Taboo was taken off the Ships. The Resolution's foremast was got on shore on the sandy beach & the Astronomer's Observatories were erected on the old Spot, a great number of large Canoes arrived in the Bay and were hauled ashore at the Town of Ka-va-roa where the Indians are busy in erecting temporary Hutts for their Residence during our Stay here. This morning an Indian stole the Armourers Toungs from the Forge but being detected he was ordered to be seized up to the Shrouds where he received a very severe flogging. Notwithstanding this Example that was made of him, another Indian in the Afternoon had the boldness to snatch the same tongues & a Chizel off the Forge before the Armourer's face & jump overboard with them; he might have been shot in the water but we thought it too rash to take his life when there was a probability of catching him".
"The small Cutter was manned and sent after him with the Master and a Midshipman in her, but in the hurry they went away without arms; when the Indian saw the boat after him he made for a Canoe which lay between him and the shore & he was taken into her. Upon this we fired some muskets from the Ship at the Canoe, which paddled away as hard as she could & was pursued by the Boat, but having only two Oars in her was soon left behind. We kept on firing at the Canoe from the Ship but she was at too great distance for us to do any execution. Parea was on board when the Theft was committed & sett off immediately for the shore promising to bring the things back: our boat still pursued the Canoe which got ashore long before it and the Thief escaped, altho' Captain Cook who was on shore at this time & saw the boat pursuing the Canoe, had run with the 2nd Lieut. and a Marine armed to intercept his Landing, but it seems that he was led out of the way designedly by some Indians who intruded themselves as Guides to lead him to the place where the Canoe would land".
"As our people drew near the shore in the small Cutter they were met by another Canoe with the Tongues & Chizel in her which the Indians instantly delivered up, together with the Lid of the Water Cask which our people knew nothing of its being stole. As they were without arms & only four in the Boat they were coming back to the Ship, when the Resolution's Pinnace came up to them with five men in her who had come away from the station where they were waiting for Captain Cook, without orders and without Arms; the Officer in the Cutter, who before was going quietly on board, being thus reinforced thought it not sufficient to have the stolen Goods restored without having the Thief or the Canoe which took him in delivered up. He therefore returned to the shore to seize upon it and bring it to the Ship, he accordingly landed and was pushing her off himself when Parea made his Appearance & desired him to desist as the Canoe belonged to him, but no heed being given to his remonstrance, he laid hold of the Officer & pinnioning his Arms behind held him fast by the hair of his Head. Upon this one of the Resolution's people struck him on the head with an oar which made him loose his prisoner, he then seized on the Oar, wrenched it out of the Man's Hand & broke it in two before his face; there was a great Croud gathered about them on the Rocks, who now began to pelt them with Stones".
"The Boats crew took the stretchers and an Oar or two in their Hands, landed & made a shew of Resistance, but the Indians poured upon them so fast that they were soon driven back to the Boat, where the Stones came so thick among them that they were all obliged to jump out of the Pinnace & swim to the small Cutter, which lay a little way off the shore with two men in her who took them in. The Master and the Midshipman, not being able to swim, retreated upon a small Rock in the Water where they were attacked by the Indians with stones, the broaken Oars & Sticks; one man advanced close to them with a broaken Oar in his hand & made a push at the Master, but his foot slipping he missed him & slightly hit the midshipman, the Indians all the while pelting them with stones from which they both received some hurts, & would perhaps have been killed had not Parea just at this time made his Appearance and ordered them to desist. The Indians then fell to plundering the Pinnace, took out all her Oars and Gangboard and endeavoured with large Stones to knock out the Bolts and other iron about her. The Midshipman got into the Pinnace & was beat by them & had his cap stolen".
"They complained to Parea of the Usage they received from his Countrymen; he interposed his Authority & gained a Cessation of Hostilities, he then desired the Gentlemen to go on board, but being told that all the Oars had been taken away he went and brought back two whole ones & one broken with which they rowed off to the Tents, where Captain Cook arrived soon after & was informed of what had happened. He was much displeased at our People for attempting to land among the Indians & seize a Canoe without having any Arms, & more especially with the Pinnace's Crew having intermeddled in this affair & left their Station without orders. As the Boats were going towards the Tents, Parea came up with them in his Canoe & delivered the Cap which had been stole from the Midshipman; he asked them if Co-kee would kill him for what had happened & the Gentlemen told him that he would not, with which he seemed satisfied & left them & crossed the Bay to the Town of Kavaroa".
"Tho' upon the whole Parea's behaviour to our people was not blameable as he did nothing but in defence of his property, yet many Circumstances make it probable that the whole of this affair was occasioned by him, and that he set the Man on to steal as he was taken into his Canoe which seemed to be lying ready for that purpose, and that the whole Scheme had been concerted between him and his People. The Indian Chiefs frequently enquire of us who are the Tata Toa or fighting Men among us, they suppose none are such but those who are tall & stout, the same as they are among them. To day one of them asked Captain Cook if he was a Toa & he answered in the affirmative, then Indian then desired him to shew his Wounds, on which Captain Cook held out his right hand to him which had a large Gash upon it between the Thumb & fore finger, and the Indian Chief seemed satisfied & then put the same Question to the 2nd Lieut who was in Company, but he not having the marks of a Tata toa, the Indian told them that he was a fighting Man and shewed his Wounds. An Indian brought some pieces of iron on board the Resolution among which was the breech pin of a Gun; they seem to intimate that they got the iron they had before our arrival from the mast of a ship which had been driven ashore on the Island but that they saw neither ship nor men. I saw a Dagger to day at the Town of Kavaroa which the Indians told us had not come from either of the Ships, & it was evident it had been beat out & formed into a Dagger by themselves".
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14th: "To widen the Breach between us, the Indians last Night took away our large Cutter which lay swamped at the Buoy of the small Bower Anchor, they carryed her off so quietly that we knew nothing of it till we missed her at daylight this Morning. Captain Clerke immediately waited upon Captain Cook to inform him of what had happened, and soon returned with orders for our Launch and small cutter to go Under the Command of the 2nd Lieut. to lie off the East point of the Harbour called Kei, & intercept any Canoes going out of the Bay and if he found it necessary to fire upon them; at the same time the Resolution's Launch & small Cutter under the Command of the 3rd Lieut. were ordered on the same service to the West point of the Bay, and the large Cutter with the Master in her was sent after a large double Canoe that was already under sail & paddling out of the Bay, the Boat soon came up with her & firing a few Muskets at her, drove her ashore on the east point. Captain Cook being upon deck & seeing this, said that she was secure, which made one of the Gentlemen who stood by him say that the Indians would probably defend her if our people attempted to land, Captain Cook answered that he was sure they would not stand the fire of a single musket, and in this he certainly was right tho' the fatal Accident that soon after followed may at first sight seem to prove the contrary".
"The Loss of so useful a boat as the great Cutter would be attended with great inconvenience to the Ship, the Recovery of her therefore was an object of importance. While the Boats stationed off each point of the Bay prevented any Canoes getting out, Capt. Cook resolved to go ashore himself at the Town of Kavaroa & if Kariopoo should be there to get him on board the Ship & detain him till the Boat was returned, which was the only means that could be used with any probability of Success; but if he found that he and his people had fled as there was reason to suppose, his intention was to retaliate upon them by burning their Houses & seizing upon the large Canoes which were hauled up on the Beach. The Business required dispatch, he therefore about seven o'Clock set out in the Pinnace attended by the Lieut. of Marines, a Serjeant, Corporal and seven private Men with a Mate and Boats' Crew armed. As he expected to meet with Resistance, he had the Precaution first to order the Launch which lay at the point to come more in & act in concert with the pinnace, as he might want their assistance after he got on shore, he then landed with the Marines at the Town on the most convenient Spot for drawing them up. The Indians immediately flocked round him as usual, without any hostile appearance, but not choosing to trust to this he was careful to have them kept at a proper distance from his men; he enquired for the two Boys the King's Sons, upon which two Messengers were directly sent for them, the 2 boys soon arrived and he asked them for their Father, they told him that he was asleep at a House in the Town a little distance off and he accompanyed them thither with the Marines".
"As Capt. Cook passed along the Indians prostrated themselves on their Faces before him & shewed him the same Respect as usual, and Kanina & some other Chiefs who had joined him kept the croud in order according to their usual Custom. They asked him if he wanted any Hogs or Roots, he told them that he did not, but that he wanted to see the King. They soon arrived at the House where he was which belonged to a Chief called Ke-heina; Capt. Cook desired some of the Indians to go in and inform Kariopoo that he wanted to speak to him, they came out several times & presented some pieces of red Cloth to him which made Captain Cook suspect that the King was not there, he therefore ordered the Lieut. of Marines to go in and see while he himself stood on the outside holding his musket. The Lieut. found the old Man just awoke from his sleep and somewhat surprized at the Message delivered to him, but came out without any hesitation to Capt. Cook who took him by the hand and asked him in a friendly Manner if he would go on board the Ship with him; to this the King who suspected no Harm most readily consented and every thing hitherto wore the Appearance of Friendship and Tranquility. Captain Cook was amazed at this and said, 'These People are entirely innocent of stealing the Cutter, I can do nothing with them, however I must get the King on board'".
"However, as soon as Kariopoo came out of the House some of the Indians were observed arming themselves, he sat down & a large Ring was formed before the House in which the Marines were drawn up, Kanina & his Brother Koo-howrooa were very active in keeping order among the Croud which was now become very great. About this time two men in a Canoe, having first called at the two Ships to tell the story, arrived with the News of a Chief called Ka-ree-moo having been just killed on the opposite side of the Bay by the Discovery's Boats that were stationed there; The Women who were sitting together on the rocks by the water side eating their Breakfast & talking in a friendly manner to some of our people in the Boats, on this immediately retired and a confused Murmur ran through the Croud. An old Priest came into the Ring to Captain Cook holding a Cocoa nut in his hand which he offered to him as a present according to their Custom, at the same time singing very loud, tho' often desired by Captain Cook to cease and the Lieut. clapped his hand to his mouth, but in spite of every thing the old Man kept bellowing on, and this seemed intended to divert their attention from the Indians who were arming in great numbers with Spears, Daggers, Clubs and Stones, & putting on their coarse thick matts which they use as Armour to defend themselves from stones & the Weapons used at these Islands".
"The House before which Capt. Cook had his party drawn up is about thirty yards from the water side & they were there entirely surrounded by the Indians to the Number of two or three Thousand, which in the present hostile appearance was by no means an eligible Situation, he therefore ordered the Marines to march down to the water side and form on the Rocks, so as to leave no room for the Indians to get between them & the 2 Boats which were at this time close together within a few Yards of the Shore. The Indians opened and made a Lane for the marines to pass and did not offer to molest them. Captain Cook followed them having hold of Kariopoo's Hand who came with him very willingly, leaning on two of his people and accompanyed by his two Sons, the younger of whom (Ke-owa) went directly into the Pinnace expecting his father to follow. The old Priest still attended them making the same savage Noise. When they had come near the Beach an old Woman came crying to the King & throwing her arms round his neck, with the assistance of two of the Chiefs attending him made him sit down by the side of a double Canoe hauled on the Rocks. They wou'd not suffer him to go any further, telling him that if he went on board the Ship he would be killed. Kariopoo on this hung down his head & looked disconsolate as if suspecting some disagreeable Consequences would ensue which it was not in his power to prevent. A Chief well known to us whose name is Coho was seen skulking about them concealing a long iron dagger under his Cloak, the Lieut. took notice of him and told the Captain that he meant to stab one of them and asked if he should fire at him, but Capt. Cook who was ever too tender of the Lives of Indians would not permit him; however, the Man still closing upon them the Officer struck him with the butt end of his Musket, which made him retire, another Fellow laid hold of the Serjeant's Musket and endeavoured to wrench it from him, but desisted on the Lieut. offering to strike him with his piece".
"Captain Cook seeing the Indians resolute & armed all round, said 'If we take him away by force I see we must kill a great number of them', and as he was pausing and as it is immagined just going to give Orders to return to the Boats, an Indian was seen threatening to hit him with a Stone, upon which he fired at him with Small shot with which one of the barrels of his double Piece was loaded; but as the man had a thick matt before him He received no hurt and he brandished his Spear & threatened Captain Cook again, on which being still unwilling to take his Life he advanced to him & knocked him down with his Musket. The Marines were all this time drawn up on the edge of the Rock facing the Indians. All Thoughts of getting Kariopoo on board were now given up & Captain Cook acted entirely on the defensive in order to secure a safe and orderly Embarkation for his small party into the boats; to gain that point it became necessary to resist the Impetuosity of the Indians who in a body of several Thousands of people were pressing upon them, and ready to seize on the first advantagious opportunity of falling upon our Men should they turn their Backs to them & retreat with Precipitation and Disorder. Keowa the King's Son on hearing Captain Cook's fire was frightened & at his own desire was put on shore out of the Pinnace, as no Mischief was even at this time apprehended to those on shore by the People in the Boats".
"The Indians were now grown very daring & troublesome, they threw several Stones at our people by which one of them was knocked down. One was seen behind the double Canoe threatening to dart his Spear at Captain Cook, who on being shewn the man shot at him, but it seems killed another who stood by him; the Serjeant told him that he had shot the wrong Person upon which he ordered him to shoot the right one, which he did and killed him. The Ardour and Impetuosity of the Indians were by this a little repressed, they were staggered & the body of them fell back; a Volley of Stones now came among our People on which the Marines gave a general fire & left themselves without a Reserve, this was instantly followed by a fire from the Boats, on which Capt. Cook expressed his Astonishment, waved his hand to the Boats, told them to cease their fire and come nearer in to receive the People. On receiving the fire the Indians fell back & many of them dropped & it is highly probable that a vigourous push at this juncture would have put them to flight; but no sooner had the Marines made the general Discharge but the body of them flung down their pieces and threw themselves into the water, on this all was over, the Indians immediately rushed down upon them, dragged those who could not swim upon the Rocks where they dashed their brains out".
"Captain Cook was advanced a few paces before the Marines when they fired, the Stones flew as thick as hail which knocked the Lieut. down & as he was rising a fellow stuck him in the back with a Spear, however he recovered himself shot the Indian dead and escaped into the Water. Captain Cook was now the only Man on the Rock, he was seen walking down towards the Pinnace, holding his left hand against the Back of his head to guard it from the Stones & carrying his Musket under the other Arm. An Indian came running behind him, stopping once or twice as he advanced, as if he was afraid that he should turn round, then taking him unaware he sprung to him, knocked him on the back of his head with a large Club taken out of a fence, & instantly fled with the greatest precipitation; the blow made Captain Cook stagger two or three paces, he then fell on his hand & one knee & dropped his Musket, as he was rising another Indian came running to him & before he could recover himself from the Fall drew out an iron Dagger he concealed under his feathered Cloak & stuck it with all his force into the back of his Neck, which made Capt. Cook tumble into the Water in a kind of a bite by the side of the rock where the water is about knee deep; here he was followed by a croud of people who endeavoured to keep him under water, but struggling very strong with them he got his head up & looking towards the Pinnace which was not above a boat hook's Length from him waved his hands to them for Assistance, which it seems it was not in their Power to give".
"The Indians got him under water again but he disengaged himself & got his head up once more & not being able to swim he endeavoured to scramble on the Rock, when a fellow gave him a blow on the head with a large Club and he was seen alive no more. They now kept him under water, one man sat on his Shoulders & beat his head with a stone while others beat him with Clubs & Stones, they then hauled him up dead on the Rocks where they stuck him with their Daggers, dashed his head against the rock & beat him with Clubs & Stones, taking a Savage pleasure in using every barbarity to the dead body; as soon as one had stuck him another would take the Instrument out of his Body and give him another Stab. At the same time four of the Marines were killed (viz.) James Thomas the Corporal, Theophilus Hinks, Thomas Fatchett & John Allen private. The corporal was stabbed in the Bowels while in the Water, he fired at the fellow who had stabbed him & as some say killed him, he was soon hauled on the Rock with the rest of our people where the Savages dashed their heads & beat them with Clubs & Stones in such a violent Manner & so long continued, as if they thought they would never be dead. Let us now come to the Boats, which at the time that Captain Cook waved to them with his hand & told them to come nearer in, lay close together within five or six yards of the Shore & at the distance of 15 or twenty yards from the Marines a little to the right of them; the Mate in the Pinnace immediately complyed with Capt. Cook's Orders & brought that boat as near in as he could without grounding, which would have been dangerous as some of the Indians now attacked the boat and endeavoured to lay hold of her and haul her on shore, at the same time that the boats Crew were busy in taking the Marines in who had escaped from the Indians, which creating unavoidable confusion & disorder in such a small boat prevented them entirely from using their fire arms & giving assistance to Capt. Cook".
"The officer who commanded the Launch mistaking, as he himself says, the Signal which Capt. Cook made by waving his hand as an order to get further out, immediately ordered that Boat to pull off the Shore at the very Moment her assistance was so much wanted, & got to the distance of about fifty yards out of the reach of the Stones where she lay upon her Oars, while some of the Marines were drowned for want of a boat to take them in, Allen even crying out to them that he should be drown'd if they did not come nearer in & give him assistance, which he accordingly was, not being able to swim & it is highly probable that the Corporal might have been saved had this Boat come nearer in. This Conduct of the Officer who commanded in the Launch was taken Notice of at the time by the Lieut. of Marines, who presently after exclaimed against it & said that he once thought of shooting him on the Spot; the Crew of that Boat likewise spread a Report, that if they had gone in according to Capt. Cook's Orders they might have given him & the rest of the people on shore some assistance, whereas in the Situation to which the officer had ordered them, they could be of no manner of service to any of the People; for all those who escaped with their Lives by swimming were taken in by the Pinnace, which was thereby so crouded that the Crew could not make use of their fire Arms against the Indians who were killing Captain Cook".
"The Officer of Marines after getting into the Pinnace, finding her so incommoded by the number of people in her jumped over board & swam to the Launch, first having saved the Life of Jackson a Marine who was just sinking after having received a violent blow on his head. The Launch kept a fire from the Situation she was in on the Indians on shore, at the same time the officer gave Orders for the small Cutter to go close in shore with four or five youngsters in her & keep a fire on the Indians; they went close in but could hardly find an Indian to fire at, there being only a few Stragglers thinly scatter'd here & there, & the dead Bodies of Captain Cook and the four Marines lying on the rock close to the water's edge with only two or three Indians about them, so that there could be no manner of difficulty in taking them in. However one or two muskets having got wet in the Launch & about as many men saying that their Cartridges were almost expended, this was thought a sufficient excuse for returning to the Ship & leave the dead body of their great Commander exposed on the beach to the insults & Barbarities of the Indians. What can be said to this! - they did return on board with the Boats with about forty men in them, the major part of whom according to their own declaration had their boxes nearly full, not having expended above 3 or four Cartridges; as they were pulling off, the Coxswain of the Pinnace fired at a few Indians on the Beach and killed one of them on which the rest immediately fled & left the Place clear".
"To have come away at such a time as this & forsaken the body of Captain Cook cannot be thought on without feeling the keenest anguish and Indignation; the Men it must be said were most sincerely affected on this Occasion & had they been left to themselves would most certainly have brought him off, when they came along side they cryed out with Tears in their Eyes that they had lost their Father! Those on board knew of their Loss before this, having seen with their Glasses Captain Cook knocked down, on which two or three great Guns were fired among the Indians which made them fly in great Numbers; had this fire been kept up the beach would soon have been cleared & it is difficult to say positively that it would not have given Captain Cook some Chance for his life, it is certain that this alone would have cleared the Beach for a few Men out of the Boats to land & bring his body off, however for some Reason even this fire was discontinued almost as soon as it was begun. It is the general Opinion that on account of the situation he was in the Boats could not have saved Captain Cook's Life; still it appears difficult to decide what might have been effected by three Boats with near forty men in them, from what was done by one of the smallest which at the most important moment was engaged in picking up those who swam from the shore. Tho' at first, while men's Passions were yet warm it was common to cry up the Intrepidity & more than manly Courage of these Indians, yet when we consider the matter coolly it appears very evident that they never faced our people or attacked them except at a distance with Stones, untill they were encouraged to fall on our people turning their backs to them & falling into disorder. Indians never will, be they ever so numerous, stand before a set of resolute Men with fire arms who will firmly maintain their Ground; nor, except they have you entirely in their Power, will they stand the fire of a single musket, but no people are quicker to observe or more active in taking advantage of their Enemies when that Vigour & firmness which ought ever to be kept in full force, begins once to relax - when the different parts which ought to act as one body begin to fall asunder, then by a furious onset they increase the confusion and gain a very easy conquest. All those who were wounded were wounded in the Back. When Captain Cook was left upon the Rock alone, the Indian seem'd afraid of approaching him even when his back was turned to him, it was not every man among them who dared even in his present situation to attack him; he was a Chief of great consequence & nearly related to Kariopoo who had the Courage to do it, Capt. Cook was entirely detached from the Croud, the Man advanced to him slyly when he could not suspect any thing. Had he been aware of his coming time enough to have faced him, it does not admit of a doubt but that the Indian would have fled his presence like the Souldier did from the brave Roman when he cryed out, 'Fellow darest thou kill Caius Marius'? Tho' these Indians are undoubtedly brave, yet a small body of well disciplined Europeans with fire Arms will have much more to suspect from their Treachery than their Courage. Upon the whole may it not be fairly inferred that had the Launch stood by the Pinnace, & both had resolutely pulled in & kept a regular & well directed fire upon the Indians, that they must have given way and thereby the Life of that Man been saved whose Loss his Country must ever deplore".
"Such were the Circumstances of this most unfortunate Affair, in the Relation of which attention has been paid to every particular of it, which probably has rendered the narrative tedious & prolix; & however disagreeable a Task it may be to sum up those facts which reflect no Credit on the Conduct of one of the officers, yet I hope it has been done with Candour, and that even the great Veneration in which I hold the Abilities & Virtues of Captain Cook has not cast such a Mist before my Eyes but that I have been able to see & honest enough to follow the Path that is enlightened by the Rays of Truth. It may be affirmed that nothing has been aimed at in this Narrative but to relate matter of fact and that the excellent Precept of Shakespear has been all along kept in view & inviolably adhered to,
"As soon as the boats came on board the Pinnace was sent to the Discovery to inform Captain Clerke upon whom the chief Command had now devolved, of what had happened, he went immediately on board the Resolution. The Security of her foremast, which was repairing on shore on that side of the Harbour where the Tents were erected, became now the first Object; a reinforcement of Men was sent to Mr. King the 2nd Lieut of the Resolution who commanded there, & who was already surrounded by a great number of Indians who attacked the People at a distance & from behind some walls & Houses with Stones, the Discovery's Boats which lay at the east point of the bay now joined him, & he drew up all his force on the Pile of Stones called Ohekeaw which was a very advantageous Situation, where he was secure from any sudden Onset of the Indians, and where he could overlook & guard the People who were getting the foremast into the water & the Tents into the Boats to be carryed on board the Ships; the Indians from all Quarters pelted our people with Stones but did them no hurt, but a few of them fell by our fire arms. The Priest Kaireekea who had been our constant Friend, and by his honest & obliging behaviour had gained universal Esteem among us, staid all this time by our people & at the desire of the Lieut. expostulated with his Countrymen on their attacking our people, and telling them that we meant to do them no hurt except we were forced to it in our own defence; but this having no effect upon them, who still continued to throw stones, Mr. King told Kaireekea that it would be better for him to stay with us no longer, lest his Countrymen might take offence at it or some Accident might happen to him from our people, upon which this friendly Indian went away ..."
"Sometimes one of them would come out of bravado & expose himself as a mark for our people & if they missed him would wave his matt over his head in triumph; one Man having stood several shot, had still the rashness to stand there & brave our people till at last he was brought down ... On seeing the fire & smoke at the discharge of the Muskets the Indians concluded that they did the execution by burning, and then naturally supposed that water would destroy their Effect which made them all wet their matts in a pond close by. There were five or six Indians killed & not any of our people hurt, the Mast & Tents were got safe on board; after they had quitted their Station on Ohekeeaw the place was immediately occupied by the Indians, but having got every thing from the Shore we had no further Molestation to fear from them. Notwithstanding we are at open war with these people we had a few Girls on board both Ships all this day".
"Reflections being universally Cast on the Conduct of the third Lieut. of the Resolution who commanded in the Launch, he desired that a public Enquiry might be made into the affair; accordingly several of that Boat's Crew were called who gave answers to the several questions that were put to them, agreeable to the Account that has been before given of this morning's Transactions, but some of the mates seemed to prevaricate and dissent from their first Assertions, even expressly contradicting what they had said to the officer of Marines when he blamed the Conduct of the third Lieut."
"The foremast being got on board Our next object was to recover the Body of Capt. Cook from the Indians, & as it was thought impracticable now to get it by force, as in all probability it was removed up into the Country, the only method left was to endeavour to make them give it up by fair means. The mast having taken a long time in getting upon deck it was four o'Clock before this Plan could be put in execution, When the Boats of both Ships were manned with about 80 People all armed under the Command of Mr. King, who had orders not to land or fire upon the Indians without they first attacked our people, but to endeavour to come to a parley with some of them & try by fair Means to get the Body restored. As the Boats approached the Shore many of the Indians, who were collected together in great numbers on the Beach, fled, others retired a little way from the water side and threw Stones at us with Slings; they all appeared with their Matts on & armed with long Spears & Daggers, since morning they had thrown up several little breastworks of stones in many places near the Spot where our People were killed, probably expecting an attack from us at that place. Mr King got out of the Pinnace into the small Cutter & hoisting a table Cloth as an ensign of peace rowed close in shore, while the rest of the boats lay a little further off on their Oars. We opened our arms & cried out that we were at peace with them, by which means we gained a Parley with them & some of them spread out their Arms & shewed us they had no weapons; one of them advanced to the Water side & beckoned to us to come on shore, but not choosing to do that, we desired that he would come to us, at which he made no hesitation but jumped into the water & swam off to us. We found it was our old Acquaintance Coo-a-ha the Priest, he came into the boat & saluted us by touching Noses & made a crying Noise, lamenting the unfortunate quarrel that had happened between his Countrymen and us. We told him that we were come for the Body of the Orono (by which Name Captain Cook was mostly called by them) and asked him where it was, he told us it was up towards the Hills and that we should have it & that he himself would go & see it brought to us; he then (how strange the disposition of these people!) asked us for a Toi, & it was given to him upon which he went ashore, and we lay upon our oars waiting the Event at the distance of 10 or 12 yards off the Shore & the other boats a short way without us; we saw one Man parading about with Captain Cook's Hanger in his hand and another with one of our people's Trowsers on. The Indians were all armed but did not offer to assault us. We frequently enquired for the body & they told us that it would be brought to us presently; in a short time we saw the Indians prostrating themselves and a Chief of some Consequence called Ee-apo came toward the beach dressed in a long feathered Cloak, he went and sat in a large Canoe that was hauled up dry expecting we would come to him, but finding that none of us chose to trust ourselves ashore he came down to us. The Indians at this time shewed such a peaceable Disposition that the Lieut. was almost tempted to venture on shore among them himself, but when Ee-apo came down to the Water side he told us that the Orono was not killed; at the same time he kept lurking behind a rock concealing a Dagger under his Cloak, & had upon the whole such a suspicious Appearance that presented such a lively picture of Treachery as was sufficient to put Simplicity herself on her Guard. Soon after another Chief well known to us called Ta-hedoa, who had lived many days on board the Discovery, came down & in a friendly Manner called one or two of his old Shipmates by Name with whom the day before he was so intimate; we asked him for the Orono & he told us that he was a good way in the Country & that he would be brought to us to morrow, at the same time some Indians were informing the Men in the other boats that the body of Captain Cook & the four Marines were all cut to pieces. Tahedoa planted a white ensign on the Rock & there was another stuck on a small heap of stones on the spot where they had killed Captain Cook. Mr King having waited above half an hour to no manner of purpose, the Indians seeming only to trifle with us, sent on board to Captain Clerke to Inform him of what the Indians said & to know what he would have him do further. The boat returned with orders not to commit any hostilities, to return on board & wait till to morrow to see if the Indians would perform their promise. Upon this We all put back to the Ship to the great disappointment & vexation of all the People, who wished for nothing more than to revenge the Death of their much loved Commander on the spot where but a few hours before they had seen his dead body lie & insulted by the Indians; it was with much difficulty they could be restrained from firing upon them, and indeed it required more than human Patience tamely to look on while one Man brandished Captain Cook's Hanger full in our faces and others paraded about with some of our peoples Cloaths on, & to compleat the whole some of them smacked their back sides at us in contempt as we were pulling off and others threw Stones. Yet we bore it all very quietly. The Indians frequently desired some of us to land, telling us we should have the dead Body which probably was intended as a snare to get us into their hands. As soon as we came away they all retired from the Beach & went up towards the foot of the Hill behind the Town where we suppose the dead Bodys were, having seen them carryed that way in the Morning, & since perceived with our Glasses from the ship some of them lying along stripped of all their Cloaths & crowds of Indians about them. Soon after We got on board Coo-a-ha the Priest came along side the Ship in his Canoe with a white flag hoisted, he told Captain Clerke that if he would accompany him ashore the dead body of the Orono would be delivered to him; finding that he could not prevail upon him He endeavoured to persuade the 2nd Lieut. to go with him & it is unnecessary to say that he likewise refused, upon which the old Priest paddled ashore. Parea seems to have been the sole Occasion of this unhappy quarrel, as it is pretty clear that he set the Man on to steal the Armourers Tongues & Chizel & not improbable but that he was the Man who stole the Cutter. Last night the Centries at the Tents heard the women in the Town close by making mournful Cries; perhaps they knew that some Mischief was brewing by their Husbands. To night a boat was ordered to row Guard round each Ship. The Resolution lay off the Town of Kavaroa at the distance of about a quarter of a mile & the Discovery about a Cable's Length from her, between her & the Town of Keragegooa on the opposite side of the Bay to Kavaroa".
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15th: "During the whole night we saw many Lights moving backwards & forwards behind the Town & several Fires burning, where we immagined the Indians were destroying the dead Bodies of our people, & by the Lights we supposed they were burying their own people at the foot of the Hill, & we heard Howlings & Lamentations from many parts of the Bay. We were quiet in the Ships none of them offering to disturb us in the Night. Early this Morning a Canoe passed the Ship at a little distance in which was only one man, he told us that the Body of Capt. Cook was brought down to the Beach. Soon after Coo-aha came along side the Resolution & wanted Mr. King to go ashore; during the Course of the day he came to the Ship several times under a flag of Truce & once brought a small Pig and a head of Taroo as a present but we would not accept of them. In the afternoon Capt. Cook's Cloaths were sold in the Cabbin to the Gentlemen of both Ships. Coo-a-ha came to the ship again in the Dusk of the Evening; as it seem'd that his whole business was only to make observations we told him to go ashore directly. We waited all this day without seeing any thing of the dead Body according to the promise of the Indians last night... There were a great number of Indians at the Town of Kavaroa all this day, every time the Priest returned from the Ship they crouded round him to hear the News he had brought. Seeing from the Ships many Indians going in the morning across the low hill behind the Town, we suspected that there might be a Fleet of Canoes round the point waiting for an Opportunity to attack the Ships, which made Capt Clerke send the Pinnace round the point to see; as the boat rowed along the People on shore waved white Ensigns, but notwithstanding when she approached near they hove stones at her. We have had some Expectation of their Attacking the Ships, as they could never find a better Opportunity than the Present, on account of the Resolution's mast being repairing on Deck and the Ship much lumbered with rigging &c. However it is highly improbable that they will ever make such an attempt, the present good Will we bear to them make[s] the generality of us very desirous that they would make a Trial. The Boat soon returned without having seen any Canoes".
"To day Captain Clerke took upon him the Command of the Resolution and appointed the first Lieut. of her, Mr Gore, to the Command of the Discovery; the 2nd Lieut of her was appointed 1st & the 3rd to be 2nd Lieut. of her. At eight o'Clock at night the 2 Sentries on the Resolutions forecastle perceived a Canoe under the Bows with two Men in her laying hold of the Cable, upon which they fired upon them, the alarm was given in the Ship of the Indians coming to attack her & all were immediately upon deck under arms. The two Indians on being discovered & fired at cryed out for Teene (as they called Mr King). Our people jumped into the Boats along side, seized the Canoe & brought the two men on board, who were much frightened & asked Mr King if they would be killed and he told them they would not as they were well known to us, both belonging to our Friend Kaireekea the Priest; one of them was he whom we called the Taboo Man as he always went in the head of Captain Cook's Pinnace holding a long stick in his hand... He had a bundle under his arm & he was carryed down into the Cabbin where he opened it, and presented to us a Spectacle that struck us with Horror; this was a large piece of human flesh, being the whole of the upper part of a Thigh with the bone taken out, it smelled strong, he told us repeatedly it was the Thigh of Capt. Cook & that he was carrying it over as a present to Cahoo from Kariopoo, & we supposed it might be intended as an Offering to their Gods. We asked him if they eat the flesh of their Enemies, this he strongly denyed; we enquired for his Head & the rest of the body, he told us that the head was beat to pieces & the body & Limbs burnt & the Bones in the possession of Kariopoo. Cahoo, who is the head priest & Chief of Ohekeaw, to whom the Taboo man belongs, does not seem on this occasion to espouse the Interest of the King but rather to favour us".
"The two Men staid on board till after nine o'Clock and then went ashore at Ohekeeaw where Cahoo resides, & a boat was sent with them past the Discovery lest the Guard boat might fire at them. On seeing them under the ship's Bows the Sentries thought they were cutting the Cable, to prevent which, as we had some Suspicion that the Indians might make the attempt, they were placed on the forecastle; the 2 shot had gone through the upper part of the Canoe but has luckily missed the 2 men in her. These two men seemed to deal upon an honest footing with us, told us that if any of us went on shore according to the desire of Coo-a-ha that the Indians would kill them, and that their shew of Friendship was intended to deceive. They expressed much fear least they should know of his having come on board with the Thigh, they said that all our people had been burnt last Night and their own buried. This Morning some of the large Canoes were taken out of the Bay, the Indians endeavouring to secure all of their Effects from falling into our Hands".
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16th: "Last night Women were heard howling & crying ashore, perhaps over their deceased Husbands & Friends. This morning Captain Cook's Thigh was buried in the Sea. Coo-a-ha came again to the Resolution under a Flag of truce, wanting some of the officers to go ashore, & in the afternoon came upon the same Errand to the Discovery; as we are acquainted with the treacherous Design that this Man comes upon he owes his Life to our forbearance & humanity, which on such an occasion as this seems to be carryed to a degree almost bordering upon weakness. However be it still our praise to err on the side of Mercy rather than on that of Severity ... "
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18th: "About eight o'Clock at night a man brought off some roasted bread fruit on a swimming board to the Discovery, which was bought of him; soon after two or three Canoes came loaded with the same Article, and one with Girls which were admitted to the Ship, tho' we are at open war with their Countrymen. We enquired of some of these Indians what they had done with Captain Cook's body and with those of the rest of our people; they told us that the body of Captain Cook was divided in the following manner. His head fell to the share of a Chief called Ke-koo-opeoo; his Hair to Kamehameha; his Legs, Thighs, Arms & under Jaw to Kariopoo, and the body was burnt. They told us that the King and his Attendants lived at present in some Holes in the rocks behind the Town of Kavaroa".
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20th: "Between ten & eleven o'Clock we saw a great Number of people coming down the hills in a kind of procession, every one of them carrying a Sugar Cane or two on his Shoulders & about as many breadfruit, Taroo root, or Plantains in his Hand. Two Drummers who accompanyed them sat down on the Beach by a white Flag & beat their Drums, while the Indians came one by one, laid down their Sugar Cane &c. and then retired; another party came along the Beach, in the same order, & laid down their Presents or peace offerings upon the others & then withdrew. Another white Flag with one Man sitting by it was flying about midway on the Beach. In a short time we saw Eeapo in his feathered Cloak standing on a rock waving to us for a boat to come on shore, on which Captain Clerke went to him in the Pinnace attended by the 1st Lieut. in the large Cutter. They did not land, for Eeapo attended by Taweno-ora came into the Pinnace, and a large bundle was handed in covered with a black feathered Cloak, in which was contained the remains of Captain Cook decently wrapped up in a large quantity of fine new Cloth. Eeapo did not stay long on board either Ship, but soon returned on shore with the presents that were made to him, a fine new Cloak was given to him on board the Discovery made of red Bays with a border of green. In the Afternoon the Bundle was opened on board the Resolution in the Cabbin, we found in it the following bones with some flesh upon them which had the marks of fire. The Thighs & Legs joined together but not the feet, both Arms with the Hands seperated from them, the Skull with all the bones that form the face wanting with the Scalp seperated from it, which was also in the bundle with the hair on it cut short, both Hands whole with the Skin of the fore Arms joined to them, the hands had not been in the fire, but were salted, several Gashes being cut in them to take the Salt in. Tho we had no doubt concerning the Identity of any of the parts contained in the bundle, every one must be perfectly satisfied as to that of the hands, for we all knew the right by a large Scar on it seperating for about an inch the Thumb from the fore-finger. The Ears adhered to the Scalp, which had a cut in it about an inch long, probably made by the first blow he received with the Club, but the Skull was not fractured so that it is likely that the Stroke was not mortal. Such was the Condition in which those, who looked upon Captain Cook as their father & whose great Qualities they venerated almost to adoration, were doomed to behold his Remains; what their feelings were upon the Occasion is not to be described".
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21st: "... Between four and five o'Clock in the afternoon the Colours of both Ships were hoisted half staff up and the yards crossed, and at ten minutes before six the Remains of Captain Cook were committed to the deep under a discharge of 10 Guns".
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd: "We had no Canoes along side this Morning; perhaps the Indians on hearing the Guns at the funeral last night immagined that Hostilities were again commenced, but however the Case might be with the generality, Eeapo and his Attendants were well convinced of the contrary by the many presents that had been made to them & the cordial manner in which he had been always received, he therefore made no hesitation at coming on board the Ships, he brought with him Captain Cook's under Jaw & his feet, one of his Shoes and a piece of his hat ... They have not restored any of the Marines' arms or indeed any thing else that could be of any Service to them. Kaireekea the Priest tells us that even now these people are not our friends and we have great reason to believe him. On talking about the two Chiefs who killed Captain Cook he asked us in a low Voice if we did not mean to get them into our hands and kill them before we went away. They are universally known, having acquired great Fame by the action. The Indians say that they thought Kariopoo would have been killed if he had gone on board with Captain Cook. They tell us that Parea was the person who stole the Discovery's great Cutter and that she was broke to pieces early in the morning, which confirms the Suspicions we have all along had. We are getting ready for sea, intending to sail out of the Harbour to night with the land Breeze ... We have a great number of Girls on board, most of them want to accompany us to the next Island, Mowee ... About nine o'Clock at Night the land breeze springing up we sailed out of Kerag-egooa Harbour and stood along shore for the Island of Mowee which lies to leeward of us".
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd: "Standing along shore towards Mowee with a light Wind and fair Weather, two or three Canoes came off to us with a few Hogs, & one for two of the Girls. At night it came on to blow fresh".
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24th: "Standing along the Island Ca-how-ra-we with a fresh Breeze, having Mowee, Oranai and Morotai in sight ... Canoes came off to us from the different Islands around us with Hogs, breadfruit & roots to sell. The News of the affair of Kerag-egooa had reached them before our arrival, for that was almost the first thing they mentioned to us, and seemed desirous that we should know that Kariopoo was not the King of these Islands but that they belonged to Ka-hee-keere; the Girls who came with us gave them the particulars of that Transaction to which they listened with great attention and were very inquisitive about every Circumstance; as far as we could understand them the Girls told them that we had come off with the worst, having had our Chief killed, & their Numbers being of little consequence when compared with the Loss of so great a Man. And it will be well if the disgraceful representation which the Girls give of us may not be the occasion of further quarrels with the Inhabitants of these Islands before we leave them ... This being considered it should seem impolitic at least to carry these Girls with us to propogate our unfortunate story from Island to Island and be perpetual Recorders of our disgrace ..."
Get your own Free Home Page