said he should keep them till the things
stolen were returned. This had the desired effect, and everything was
soon brought back.

On 23rd May they sailed for Ulietea, and on their arrival the next day
were well received, though it was evident provisions were rather scarce.
They were informed here that two ships had arrived at Huaheine, one
commanded by Banks, and the other by Furneaux, and their informant
describes both Captains so well that it was some time before Cook
ventured to reject the tale as too improbable. It is possible that there
was some foundation for the story that ships had been seen, for it
afterwards became known that M. St. Dennis had been in the South Pacific
about this time with two vessels.

Notwithstanding pressing invitations from the natives to stay, Cook
sailed for Lord Howe's Island, discovered by Wallis, reaching it on the
6th June, but as it seemed uninhabited it offered no inducement for any
stay. On the 16th a chain of sand-banks and islets surrounding a lagoon
into which no practicable entrance could be seen, was named Palmerston's
Islands; and on the 20th a landing was effected on Savage Island, but as
the natives were very threatening, and the country enabled them to
approach closely without exposing themselves, the party retired to the
boats. A few spears were thrown, and Marra says that one would have
struck Cook had he not seen it coming and stooped in time to avoid it,
and then aimed with his gun loaded with small shot at the thrower, but it
missed fire; a short time afterwards he again tried it, aiming in the
air, and it was discharged. Forster attributes the constant misfires to
the bad quality of the flints supplied by the Government, and says that
English flints had a very unsatisfactory reputation on the Continent.

MORE THIEVING.

The course was now set for Rotterdam, where they arrived on 26th June,
and were fairly well received by the natives, who brought supplies of
fruit before the anchorage had been reached; but they soon began to play
the old game of trying to annex anything that took their fancy. One
seized the lead which was in use, whilst a second tried to cut the line
with a stone, and was only persuaded to desist by a charge of small shot
fired at his legs. A small party of sailors went ashore for water, and a
quantity was obtained; but again the natives became too pressing in their
attentions. The doctor's musket was stolen, then Mr. Clerke's, then some
other