His action has been questioned, but considering his humane character, and the judgment that he always displayed in these questions, we are justified in believing that he had good reason for departing from his ordinary custom of mild treatment of natives.

At Ulietea, or Raiatea, next visited, a midshipman and a seaman of the Discovery deserted.

Cook took his usual step of confining some natives of importance, and informing their relatives that they would be retained until the deserters were returned.
In this case he impounded the king's son and daughter, with the desired effect, as the stragglers were soon brought back from Bolabola, whither they had gone; but both Cook and Captain Clerke were nearly captured by the natives when on shore in the interval.
It is only surprising that more of Cook's people did not attempt to remain in these pleasant islands.

The hardships of the sea press much on certain natures, and the allurements of the easy and careless life of a tropical island offered such a contrast, that it scarcely required the desire of the natives to get white men with their superior knowledge, and above all superior arms, to remain with them, to induce them to desert.
This last, however, made desertion more easy, and had not Cook taken strong measures, no doubt the epidemic would have spread.
After visiting Bolabola, Cook sailed north, to prosecute the main object of his voyage, the exploration of the north-west coast of America.

On December 24th he fell in with Christmas Island, which he so named from the season.