A Narrative of the Death of Captain James CookSamwell, David
History
A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook
Samwell, David
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Death and burial
While the king was in this situation, a chief, well known to us, of the
name of Coho (Koho), was observed lurking near, with an iron dagger,
partly concealed under his cloke, seemingly, with the intention of
stabbing Captain Cook, or the lieutenant of marines. The latter proposed
to fire at him, but Captain Cook would not permit it. Coho (Koho)
closing upon them, obliged the officer to strike him with his piece,
which made him retire. Another Indian laid hold of the serjeant's
musket, and endeavoured to wrench it from him, but was prevented by the
lieutenant's making a blow at him. Captain Cook, seeing the tumult
increase, and the Indians growing 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 order 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 (Keoua), the king's son, who was in the
pinnace, being alarmed on hearing the first firing, 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
musketry, 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
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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