etter opportunity of distressing us; but
they approved themselves good-natured, and friendly in this, as on all
other occasions."--G.F.

[3] We tried all possible means to engage the people to sell some of
their hogs to us, and offered hatchets, shirts, and other goods of
value to the Taheitans; but still without success, their constant
answer being, that these animals were the king's (aree's) property.
Instead of acquiescing in this refusal, and acknowledging the kind
disposition of the natives, who furnished us at least with the means
of recovering our strength, and restoring our stock, a proposal was
made to the captains, by some persons in the ships, to sweep away, by
force, a sufficient number of hogs for our use, and afterwards to
return such a quantity of our goods in exchange to the natives, as we
should think adequate to the spoil we had taken. This proposal, which
nothing but the most tyrannical principles, and the meanest
selfishness could have dictated, was received with the contempt and
indignation which it justly deserved."--G.F.

This remark is of an earlier date than what is mentioned in the text,
but, in the whole, is more suitably introduced here. It is to the
praise of Cook, that his decision of character was founded on very
liberal views of morality; and that he possessed independence of soul
to manifest abhorrence of sinister suggestions, at the risk of losing
both the advantage aimed at, and the partiality of those who made
them. An apprehension of giving offence to men who are either esteemed
or felt to be useful, has perhaps occasioned as much iniquitous
conduct where the law of the strongest might be adopted, as ever
resulted from the influence of directly vicious principles. But from
this most mischievous weakness, it was one of the excellencies of that
truly great man to be exempt.--E.

SECTION XI.

_An Account of several Visits to and from Otoo; of Goats being left on
the Island; and many other Particulars which happened while the Ships lay
in Matavai Bay._

Before we got to an anchor, our decks were crowded with the natives; many
of whom I knew, and almost all of them knew me. A great crowd were gotten
together upon the shore; amongst whom was Otoo their king. I was just going
to pay him a visit, when I was told he was _mataow'd_, and gone to
Oparree. I could not conce