The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.Cook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
several times over, and hallooing, as we judged, for assistance; for we
were presently joined by two or three more, among whom was a young woman
with a club in her hand. By these people we were conducted to the brow
of a hill, and shown a road leading down to the harbour, which they
wanted us to take. Not choosing to comply, we returned to that we had
left, which we pursued alone, our guide refusing to go with us. After
ascending another ridge, as thickly covered with wood as those we had
come over, we saw yet other hills between us and the volcano, which
seemed as far off as at our first setting out. This discouraged us from
proceeding farther, especially as we could get no one to be our guide.
We therefore came to a resolution to return; and had but just put this
in execution, when we met between twenty and thirty people, whom the
fellow before mentioned had collected together, with a design, as we
judged, to oppose our advancing into the country; but as they saw us
returning, they suffered us to pass unmolested. Some of them put us into
the right road, accompanied us down the hill, made us stop by the way to
entertain us with cocoa-nuts, plantains, and sugar-cane; and what we did
not eat on the spot, they brought down the hill with us. Thus, we found
these people hospitable, civil, and good-natured, when not prompted to a
contrary conduct by jealousy; a conduct I cannot tell how to blame them
for, especially when I consider the light in which they must view us. It
was impossible for them to know our real design; we enter their ports
without their daring to oppose; we endeavour to land in their country as
friends, and it is well if this succeeds; we land, nevertheless, and
maintain the footing we have got, by the superiority of our fire-arms.
Under such circumstances, what opinion are they to form of us? Is it not
as reasonable for them to think that we come to invade their country, as
to pay them a friendly visit? Time, and some acquaintance with us, can
only convince them of the latter. These people are yet in a rude state;
and, if we may judge from circumstances and appearances, are frequently
at war, not only with their neighbours, but among themselves;
consequently must be jealous of every new face. I will allow there are
some exceptions to this rule to be found in this sea; but there are few
nations who would willingly suffer visitors like us to advance far into
their country.
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