humanity in wishing to prevent more bloodshed cost him his life.

Thus fell Cook in mid career. It causes regret to think that his life was unnecessarily thrown away through some failure in judgment and some faults of temper, which his attached friend, King, admits might have been justly blamed.' Had he lived longer he might have added more discoveries to his already brilliant list, but his fame would not have increased. The memory of great men usually gains when its light is contracted within a short compass, and when life terminates suddenly in its zenith. It is like the lustrous fracture of a mineral ore. About half-a-million of persons die in Great Britain every year. They go to the grave and are forgotten; but our maritime nation looks back with a fond tenacity of memory to some who have won themselves a name in different paths of honour and adventure. Hundreds of lives have been hazarded to gain tidings of an Arctic explorer; and English youth still throws aside more modern books to read of Cook or the lost La Perouse.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SEQUEL OF COOK'S DEATH-SUBSEQUENT VISITS.

THE

THE native account says that when the crowd which was about Cook and the King, Kalaniopuu, heard of the death of Kalimu, the chief who was shot in the canoe, it became clamorous for revenge; and one of the people with a short dagger in his hand approached the captain, who, fearing danger, fired at him with his gun. A general contest began, and Cook struck a chief named Kalaimano-Kahoowaha with his sword. This powerful warrior seized him with one hand to hold him, not with any idea of taking his life, for supposing him to be the god Lono he believed him incapable of death. Cook, being about to fall, cried out, which dispelled the chief's belief in his divinity, and he therefore killed him. The seamen in the boat fired on the natives, many of whom were cut down, and guns were discharged from the ship, by which more of the people were killed. The King then fled inland, to the precipice, with his chiefs and people, taking with them the bodies of Cook and four of his companions who had been slain. The King presented Cook's body in sacrifice: the flesh was afterwards removed from the bones in order to preserve them, and the flesh was consumed with fire. Three children, whose names are known, found the heart, and mistaking it for that of a dog, ate

it. Some of Cook's bones were returned to the ship; the rest were retained by the priests and worshipped.

The account of the whole transaction given by Ledyard, who was near his commander when he fell, though fuller and more explanatory, does not differ in any material points from the native narrative-indeed, not more than do any two independent histories of one transaction. The English version gives some names and circumstances which did not come within the islanders' knowledge. Lieutenant Phillips, who had landed his marines to support Cook, was close to the latter, who when he was stabbed, fell with his face. downwards into the water, the margin of which be had reached, and immediately expired. Phillips, who was a fine swordsman, threw down his fusee, and engaging the chief who had stabbed Cook, dispatched him with his sword. His guard by this time were all killed, except two, who swam to the boats, leaving the Lieutenant alone opposed to the natives. His brave defence astonished the people who were attacking him; but being at last wounded and faint, he plunged into the sea sword in hand, and was taken on board the boats. As soon, however, as he was safe, one of the marines, who had swum from shore, was seen lying at the bottom of the water. The wounded officer hearing this, ran aft, plunged again into the sea, and brought the man to the surface, and both were taken into the boat.

Captain King was on the other side of the bay, where the observatory was situated, and where the mast and sails of the Resolution' had been landed. As soon as the news arrived there of the affray, the natives commenced an attack upon the small force in charge, but were repulsed, and a truce was agreed to, during which

SEQUEL TO COOK'S DEATH.

113

the property of the ship was carried on board. All reverence for the English was now at an end. Insult and injuries followed. The natives erected a breast work on the beach and sent the women into the interior. Two men, however, brought off to the ship a portion of Cook's remains, and mentioned that the rest of his flesh had been burnt and that his bones were in possession of the chiefs. In consequence of some taunts and bravadoes the crews fired on the natives with the great guns, killing some of them, and slightly wounding the young Kaméhaméha.

On the 17th boats were sent on shore, under fire of the guns, to water the ships. The natives attacked and annoyed the party thus engaged, and they in return, set fire to some houses, which led to the destruction of the whole village. All forbearance seems to have been lost, and the English seamen gave way to their cruel and unchastened passions. They even fired on a man who approached them with the insignia of peace, and was attended by a dozen boys. Not daunted by the fire of the English, the herald reached the commanding officer, and proved to be the priest who had on all occasions shown himself the friend of Captain Cook. He came to expostulate on the ungrateful treatment which he and his brethren had received. Relying on a promise made when the natives carried some remains of the commander on board, that persons and property of the priests should be respected, they did not remove their effects, as did others, to a place of security, and now their trust was rewarded by the loss of their all.

Such is the natural levity of the Hawaiian character and the shallowness of Hawaiian feelings, that throughout these hostilities numbers of native women. remained on board the ships, showing no concern when

I

the heads of their countrymen were brought off to the vessels; and only remarking when the village was burning, that it was a very fine sight.

At last, the next evening, messengers were sent from shore to sue for peace, bringing their usual presents. The conditions required were that the remains of Cook should be restored. The messengers stated that the bodies of the marines who fell had been burnt, except the limb-bones, which were in the possession of the inferior chiefs, and that Kaméhaméha had the hair of Captain Cook. Amongst the presents of provisions which were sent to the ships that night were two from the injured but forgiving priest. We cannot scan motives; but if this lenity and generosity proceeded from the reverence he bore to his supposed Lono, it is an instance of religious consistency and forbearance not very common even in Christian lands.

The next day, all the bones of Cook which could be recovered were brought on board, wrapped in fine tapa and adorned with black and white feathers; and on the 21st a high chief came, bringing Cook's gun, his shoes, and some other trifling articles. He informed the commanders that six chiefs had been killed, some of them being the best friends the English had among the natives. On the 21st, the remains of their commander having been solemnly committed to the deep, the ships sailed from the bay. They touched at Oahu on the 27th, and proceeded to Kauai, their first station. Here they did not receive a cordial welcome. A disease had been implanted among the natives, when the ships first visited them, which had occasioned deaths and much suffering. Some goats which Cook had left thinking they might be useful on the island, proved to be a gift of Até, and created a contention which ended in a battle. No longer