A strict regard to truth, however, compelled me to the insertion of these facts, which I have offered merely as facts, without presuming to connect with them any comment of my own: esteeming it the part of a faithful historian, "to extenuate nothing, nor set down aught in malice." 'The fatal accident happened at eight o'clock in the morning, about an hour after Captain Cook landed.

It did not seem that the king, or his sons, were witnesses to it: but it is supposed, that they withdrew in the midst of the tumult.

The principal actors were the other chiefs, many of them the king's relations and attendants; the man who stabbed him with the dagger was called Nooah.

I happened to be the only one who recollected his person, from having on a former occasion mentioned his name in the journal I kept.

I was induced to take particular notice of him, more from his personal appearance than any other consideration, though he was of high rank, and a near relation of the king: he was stout and tall, with a fierce look and demeanour, and one who united in his figure the two qualities of strength and agility, in a greater degree than ever I remembered to have seen before in any other man.