Thus we took leave of Otaheite, and its inhabitants, after
a flay of juft three months; for much the greater part of the
time we lived together in the moft cordial friendfhip, and a
perpetual reciprocation of good offices. The accidental differences
which now and then happened, could not be more-
fincerely regretted on their part than they were on ours: the
principal caufes were fuch as neceffarily refulted from our
lituation and circumftances, in conjunction with the infirmities
of human nature^ from our not being able perfectly
to underftand each other,, and from the difpofition of the inhabitants
to theft, which we could not at all times bear with
or prevent. They had not, however, except in one inftance,
been attended with any fatal confequenee; and to that accident
were owing the meafures that I took to prevent others
of the fame kind. I hoped indeed to have availed myfelf
of the impreffion which had been made upon them by the
lives that had been facrificed in their conteffi with the Dolphin,
fo as that the intercourfe between us fhould have been
carried on wholly without bloodfhed; and by this hope all
my meafures were directed during the whole of my continuance
at the ifland, and I fincerely wifh, that whoever fhall
next vifit it, may be ftill more fortunate. Our traffic here was
carried on with as much order as in the heft regulated market
in Europe.. It was managed principally by Mr. Banks,
who was indefatigable in procuring provifion and refrefh-
ments while they were to be had t but during the latter part
of our time they became fcarce, partly by the increafed con-
fumption at the fort and fhip, and partly by the coming on
of the feafon in which cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit fail. All
kind o f fruit we purchafed for beads and nails, but no nails
lefs than fortypenny were current : after a very fhorttime we
could never get a pig o f more than ten or twelve pounds, for
Jefs
lefs than a hatchetbecaufe, though thefe people fet a high *jf«*
value upon fpike nails, yet thefe being an article with u— ^
which many people in the fhip were provided, the women
found a much more eafy way o f procuring them than by
bringing down provifions.
The beft articles for traffick here are axes, hatchets,
fpikes, large nails, looking-glafies, knives, and beads, for
fome of which, every thing that the natives have may be
procured. They are indeed fond of fine linen cloth, both
white and printed; but an ax worth half a crown, will fetch,
more than a piece, of clo.th worth twenty fhillings.