1773* practicable, we hove up the two kedges. At that moment, a
. A“g^‘ . light air came off from the land, which fo much aflifted the
M o n d a y 1 6 . that we foon got clear of all danger. Then I ordered
all the boats to affift the Adventure; but before they reached
her, the was under fail with the land breeze, and foon after
joined us,'leaving behind her three anchors, her coafting
cable, and two hawfers, which were never recovered. Thus
we were once more fafe at fea, after narrowly efcaping
being wrecked on the very ifland we, but a few days before,
fo ardently wifhed to be at. The calm, after bringing us
into this dangerous fituation, very fortunately continued.
For had the fea breeze, as is ufual, fet in, the Refolution
muft inevitably have been loft, and probably the Adventure
too.
During the time we were in this critical fituation, a number
of the natives were on board and about the fhips. They
feemed to he infenfible of our danger, fhewing hot the leaft
fiirprife, joy, or fear, when we were ftriking, and left us a
little before fun-fet, quite unconcerned.
We fpent the night, which proved fqually and rainy,
making fhort boards ; and the next morning, being the
17th, we anchored in Oaiti-piha Bay in twelve fathoms wa-
ter, about two cables length from the Ihore ; both fhips being
by this time crowded with a great number of the
natives,, who brought with them cocoa-nuts,, plantains, bana-
noes, apples, yams, and other roots, which they exchanged
for nails and beads. Tq feveral who called themfelves
chiefs, I made prefents of ftiirts, axes, and feveral other
articles; and, in return, they promifed to bring me hogs
and fowls: a promife they never did, nor ever intended, to
perform.
In
In the afternoon I landed, in company with Captain Fur-
neaux, in order to view the watering-place, and to found the
difpofition of the natives. I alfo fent a boat to get fome water
for prefent ufe, having fcarcely any left on board. We
found this article as convenient as could be expedited, and
the natives to behave with great civility.
Early in the morning I fent the two launches, and the
Refolution’s cutter, under the command of Mr. Gilbert, to
endeavour to recover the anchors we had left behind us;
They returned, about noon, with the Refolution’s bower
anchor; but could not recover any of the Adventure’s. The
natives came off again with fruit, as the day before, but in no
great quantity. I alfo had a party on fhore, trading under the
protection of a guard. Nothing, however, was brought to
market but fruit and roots, though many hogs were feen
(I was told) about the houfes of the natives. The cry was
that they belonged to Waheatoua the Earee de hi, or King;
and him we had not yet feen, nor, I believe, any other chief
of note. Many, however, who called themfelves Earees, came
on board, partly with a view of getting prefents, and partly
to pilfer whatever came in their way.
1.773*
Augutt.
Tuefday 17.
One of this fort of Earees I had, moil of the day, in the
cabbin, and made prefents to him and all his friends, which
were not a few. At length he was caught taking things
which did not belong to him, and handing them out of the
quarter gallery. Many complaints of the like nature were
made to me againft thofe on deck; which occafioned my
turning them all out of the fliip. My cabbin gueft made
good hafte to be gone. I was fo much exafperated at his
behaviour, that after he had got fome diftance from the
fhip, I fired two mufquets over his head, which made him
quit the canoe and take to the water. I then fent a boat to
U 2 take