er this a number of canoes came off to the ship, and the
natives, to the number of fifty, came on board without fear, saying that
they had heard such an account of the kindness of the sailors from the
three boys, that they had come to trade with them. And they did trade
with them, to such an extent that they parted with everything they had,
even stripping off their clothes, and offering them in exchange for
trinkets of little value!

About an hour before sunset, the canoes put off from the ship to return
to shore, and then it was discovered that three natives had been left
behind. Tupia hailed the canoes and told them of this, but they would
not return; and what seemed more surprising, the three savages did not
seem to care but remained on board eating and drinking, and entertaining
the ship's company with dancing and singing of a very remarkable kind,
after which they had their suppers and went quietly to bed. But they
were dreadfully horrified on awaking next morning to find that the ship
was sailing swiftly away with them; and they remained in a state of
consternation until a canoe happened to put off from shore, and after
much persuasion came alongside and took them away. The men in the canoe
were very timid about coming on deck, and they could not be got to do so
until the three savages assured them that the white people "did not eat
men!"

Cook then continued his voyage of discovery round New Zealand, making
careful notes of the coast, and naming the various headlands as he went.
As the island is fully as large as Great Britain, it took him some time
to accomplish the survey. He had many adventures, and saw many strange
things by the way, besides running considerable danger from the natives,
who showed themselves extremely hostile.

On one occasion, while they were entangled among some shoals, the hurry
on board in working the ship led the savages to suppose the voyagers
were alarmed, so taking advantage of this, four large canoes full of
armed men put off and came towards them with the intention, apparently,
of making an attack. A musket was fired over them, but as it did no
harm they continued to come on. A four-pounder, loaded with grape, was
then fired a little to one side of them. This caused them all to start
up with a shout of surprise, after which they returned quietly to the
shore.

On all occasions Captain Cook exerted himself to the utmost to prevent
bloodshed; but the natives were everywher