unjust aspersion, that Cook was not exempted from its common infirmities.  Captain King, as we shall afterwards find, makes a remark on his acquired confidence with respect to the savages, in the latter part of his professional life, which, though in the most delicate manner imaginable, seems very readily to fall in with the suspicion now stated.  As might have been expected, the over severe, and, at all events, imprudently managed punishment, failed to operate beneficially on the poor wretch that was subjected to it Perhaps it will be discovered to hold universally, that wherever the appearance of revenge characterizes an act of retributive justice, a feeling of the same principle hardens the breast of the culprit, besides influencing the speculative judgments of those who witness it But it were foolish to expect, that either one or other will avow the existence of so dangerous a motive.  The only excuse that offers itself in. behalf of Captain Cook’s conduct on this occasion, is stated in what he immediately mentions of the anarchy existing in this island.  But even that is only a palliation in part, and does not reach to the full amount of the case.  Let the reader judge.—­E.]

This, however, did not deter him from giving us farther trouble; for, in the night between the 24th and 25th, a general alarm was spread, occasioned, as was said, by one of our goats being stolen by this very man.  On examination, we found that all was safe in that quarter.  Probably, the goats were so well guarded, that he could not put his design in execution.  But his hostilities had succeeded against another object, and it appeared that he had destroyed and carried off several vines and cabbage-plants in Omai’s grounds; add he publicly threatened to kill him, and to burn his house as soon as we should leave the island.  To prevent the fellow’s doing me and Omai any more mischief, I had him seized, and confined again on board the ship, with a view of carrying him off the island; and it seemed to give general satisfaction to the chiefs, that I meant thus to dispose of him.  He was from Bolabola; but there were too many of the natives here ready to assist him in any of his designs, whenever he should think of executing them.  I had always met with more troublesome people in Huaheine than in any other of the neighbouring islands; and it was only fear, and the want of opportunities, that induced them to behave better now.  Anarchy, seemed to prevail amongst them.  Their nominal sovereign the earee rahie, as I have before observed, was but a child; and I did not find that there was any one man, or set of men who managed the government for him; so that, whenever any misunderstanding happened between us, I never knew, with sufficient precision, where to make application, in order to bring about an accommodation, or to procure redress.  The young chiefs mother would, indeed, sometimes exert herself, but I did not perceive that she had greater authority than many others.