When two of them, in which there might be about sixty men, came within the reach of the human voice, the Indians sung their war song, but seeing that little notice was taken of them, they threw a few stones at the English, and then rowed off towards the shore.

In a short time, however, they returned, as if with a fixed resolution to provoke our voyagers to a battle, animating themselves by their song as they had done before.

Tupia, without any directions from the gentlemen of the Endeavour, began to expostulate with the natives, and told them that our people had weapons which could destroy them in a moment.

Their answer to this expostulation was, in their own language, 'Come on shore, and we will kill you all.'-- 'Well,' replied Tupia, 'but why should you molest us while we are at sea?
As we do not wish to fight, we shall not accept your challenge to come on shore; and here there is no pretence for a quarrel, the sea being no more your property than the ship.' This eloquence, which greatly surprised Lieutenant Cook and his friends, as they had not suggested to Tupia any of the arguments he made use of, produced no effect upon the minds of the Indians, who soon renewed their attack.

The oratory of a musket, which was fired through one of their boats, quelled their courage, and sent them instantly away.
While our commander was in the Bay of Islands, he had a favourable opportunity of examining the interior part of the country and its produce.