of stones among the marines, who, without waiting for orders, returned it with a discharge of musketry, while the seamen in the boats Legan also to fire. At this Captain Cook expressed his astonishment, and waving his hand, called to the boats to cease firing, and to pull in. His voice, on account of the noise and confusion, was indistinctly heard; and while the pinnace came close in, Lieutenant Williamson, with the men in the launch, through some strange mistake or neglect, moved further off, at the very moment when their support might have saved their brave Commander, and the marines. The natives now rushed on with dreadful yells, and four of the marines, who had no time to reload, fell a sacrifice to their fury; other four were wounded, including Lieutenant Philips, who saved his life by shooting his antagonist; and, with the surviving marines, got into the pinnace. The Captain, who was left alone on the rock, was making for the pinnace; when, a chief, named Karimano, following him, after some hesitation, struck him on the back of the head, with a large club, and then precipitately retreated. Stunned by the blow, he staggered a few paces, fell on his hand and one knee, and dropped his musket. As he was rising, a wretch, called Nooah, stabbed him in the back of the neck with an iron dagger, and he fell into a bite of water about knee deep. Here the natives, crowding upon him, tried to keep him under; but struggling powerfully with them, he got his head up, and cast a look towards the pinnace; which was only five or six yards off, yet was unable, it seems, to save him. The natives again pressed him down, in deeper water: he was able, however, to get his head up once more, and turn-
