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Historical Records of New Zealand Vol. II.

Extract from the Log of William Bayly, Astronomer, on — H.M.S. Discovery, Capt. Cook, during that Navigator's — Third Voyage

Extract from the Log of William Bayly, Astronomer, on
H.M.S. Discovery, Capt. Cook, during that Navigator's
Third Voyage
.

6 am. Running into Charlot Sound. About 8 as we were working into Ship Cove, our Ship missed Stays (owing to the mainsail page 219 being hall'd to soon), & was very near being a shore on the Rocks. We let go our best bower & trimmed the sails a back which happily drove her a starn & by paying out the Cable she went just clear of the Rocks: as she swung she just grounded forward, gavedd Rowl & drove clear of every thing & by letting go our small bower steadied her till we carried out a Stream Anchor & warped her off & got her safe moored in 9 fathom w'h a cable each way—muddy bottom. At 11 the Indians came on board in 3 large canoes two of which was double ones. They seemed to hesitate some time & halted at a distance waving a white cloth as a signal of Peace which was answered by us; this induced them to come on board the ships & began to exchange their clothing & other things with us & consequently a free intercourse took place between us without any fear or jealousy.

The 13th the Ships tents were cary'd on Shore and set up by the side of the brook of water that runs down from the Mountains. In the afternoon I carryed my Observatory and Instruments on shore & set the Obs'y close by the Ships tents that the whole might [be] under the Centinals eye. Capt. Cook put up his observatory close by the side of mine. Wind at NNW with fine weather but exceeding hot.

The 14 the weather was fine all day with wind at NE. The people of both Ships began to cut wood &c. The Indians visit us every day in great numbers both on board & on shore bringing plenty of Fish to sell, which we purchase for nails & pieces of old cloth &c.

Had fine weather with moderate breezes at SE. I began to observe equal alts. of the Sun for the going of the Clock. This afternoon came some Indians that had not been with us before, and amongst them was a chief whose name was Kawoora.*

By means of Omi we endeavoured to learn the circumstances relatin to our People being Kill'd last Voyage. They give us two accts. viz one was given Capt. Cook as follows by Kaiwooroo. He said that our People were at dinner on shore with only the Black (which belong'd to Capt. Furnx.) man left to keep the Boat & that Kiwooroo & his people were set down with them. Kawoora says that one of his people stole a jacket out of the Boat but before he could get off with it the Black struck him across the head with a stick or sword in its scabbard, I could not clearly learn which, on which the man page 220 cry'd out he was Mattied, viz. kill'd; which made him & his other men rise up & attack our People. He says the Aree, that is the officer Mr. Rowe, jumped up & shot two of his men before they could secure him, but that the others were all secured without doing him any damage. He said that he then killed them all but kept the Aree, or officer, till the last of all. The other acct. we get from Tabbarooa (a young lad about 15 who is going with Omi to Otaheite). He says they were all sat down on shore at dinner, except the Black who was in the Boat, & that one of his countrymen stole one of our peoples jackets on which the seaman knock'd him down, from whence a fray ensued in which Mr. Rowe shot two men dead, & cut Kiwooroo across the arm with a sword & then endeavoured to get to the boat, but was taken & kill'd before he could get to her & that a great number of his countrymen rushed in on our People & knocked them all on the head & killed them at once & then knocked the boat in pieces & burnt her.

From whence it is pretty clear the quarrel happened as our people were at dinner & consequently disarmed & off their guard, but whether it was a premeditated scheme of —–or not we could not learn clearly.

A young Lad named Tabbarooa about 15 years old has determined to go to Otaheite with Omi. He is son of an Aree of some consequence among them who was kill'd in the engagement with Trinkaboo—being one of his warriors.

When it was known among his relations that he intended to go, one woman cryed much & beat her head, & otherwise used every persuasive argument against his going, but to no purpose; he being determined to go. Omi dealed very fair with them & told him what he had to expect when he came to Otaheite, that he could not expect to be more than a Towtow or Servant, but he still persists in going at all events. There is likewise some talk of a lad about 10 years of age going with Omi. About Noon some little quarrel arose between the Sargant of Marines of the Resolution & an old Indian, on which the Indian went off in his Canoe in a terrible rage to a little cove where was a number of Indians at dinner, & they all launched their Canoes & went across the Sound toward a Cove where Capt. Cook had some men cutting grass. Capt. Cook saw the inraged Indian & endeavoured to enquire the cause & Passify him; but he could neither do one or the other. He therefore sent his Pinnes man'd & armed to his grass cutters to protect them in case they wanted it; but the Indians altered their rout when they saw the Pinnis coming after them.

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Most of the Indians came back again & behaved the same as usual in a friendly manner. This morning our Capts. went up the Sound with the Ships boats man'd & armed to examine the sound & get vegetables. They set out at daylight & returned on board again in the evening without meeting with anything remarkable. They saw very few Indians & none of any note, the Sound being very thin of people, occasioned by a terrible battle between the inhabitants of Admiralty Bay & those of Charlotte Sound. In this Battle the Chief of Charlotte Sound (whose name was Trinkaboo) was kill'd together with 50 of his best men & a number of women taken Prisoners & carryed off to Admiralty Bay. The Indians told us they intended giving them battle as soon as they had a little recruited their number & strength.

We had very blowing weather at WNW & flying clouds & rain at times & during the night much rain all the next day till the evening when it cleared up & we had a fine night.

The 18 & 19 had fine weather, wind at NW.

In the morning it came to blow at NNW with rain & from 7 to 11 exceeding heavy squalls came down from the hills so strong that laid the ships down on their beam ends & our ship dragged her anchor & was very near fowl of the Resolution before they could get the Sheet Anchor over the side & let it go, most of the people being on shore, but they swong clear without any damage & the wind soon abated & they got her moored again.

Had fine weather, wind at NW. This day came to us the Raining chief of the Sound, & with him 20 of the finest young men I ever saw. The oldest appeared not to exceed 20 years of age. The Chief appeared to be about 30 or rather under, being an exceeding lusty well grown man, about 6 ft.

During our stay we boiled the blubber we got at Kerguelans land & refined the Oil. The Indians were exceedingly fond of the oil eating great quantities of it & even picking up the blubber (that was thrown away after the oil was out of it) & eating it in great quantities & carrying away basket fulls in their Canoes.

When we left Charlotte Sound our Ship drew Afore 14 ft. 00 inches, Aft. 14 feet 6 inches, of water.

At 9 this morning, weighed Anchor & came to sail out of Charlotte Sound in company with the Resolution. At noon we were due East of the Brothers when our Latd. obsd. was 41° 07′ South.

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* In the M.S. this name was originally spelt Kiwoora, but the “i” has been changed to an “a.” Elsewhere in the journal it is spelt Kiwoora, without any alteration, and Kiwooroo.