\iT7- that Futtafaihe’s women relieved each other, and went to June.
»----' lleep by turns. In any other country, it would be fuppofed,
that fuch a practice would put an end to all reft; but
here it certainly aits as an opiate; and is a ftrong proof of
what habit may effeCt. The noife of this, however, was
not the only thing that kept us awake ; for the people, who
palled the night in the houfe, not only converfed amongft
each other frequently, as in the day j but all got up before
it was light, and made a hearty meal on filh and yams,
which were brought to them by a perfon, who feemed to
know very well the appointed time for this noCturnal re-
freihmenr.
juiy. Next morning we fet out with Futtafaihe, and walked
Tuefday j. <]own tjle £aft fide of the bay, to the point. The country,
all along this fide, is well cultivated; but, in general, not
fo much inclofed as at Mooa; and amongft many other
plantain fields that we palled, there was one at leaft a mile
long, which was in excellent order, every tree growing
with great vigour. We found, that, in travelling, Futtafaihe
exercifed a power, though by no means wantonly,
which pointed out the great authority of fuch principal
men; or is, perhaps, only annexed to thofe of the royal
family. For he fent to one place for filh; to another for
yams ; and fo on, at other places ; and all his orders were
obeyed with the greateft readinefs, as if he had been abfolute
mailer of the people’s property. On coming to the point, the
natives mentioned fomething of one, who, they faid, had been
fired at by fome of our people ; and, upon our wiftiing to
fee him, they conducted us to a houfe, where we found a
man, who had been Ihot through the ihoulder, but not
dangeroully ; as the ball had entered a little above the inner
part of the collar bone, and palled out obliquely backward.
We were fure, from the ftate of the wound, that he was the w?.
perfon who had been fired at by one of the fentinels, three
days before; though pofitive orders had been giyen, that none
o f them lhould load their pieces with any thing but fmall
ihot. We gave fome directions- to his friends how to manage
the wound, to which no application hadbeen made ;
and they feemed pleafed, when we told them it would get
well in a certain time. But, on our going away, they alked-
us to fend the wounded man fome yams, and other things
for food; and. in fuch a- manner, that we could not help,
thinking they confidered it to be our duty to fupport him,
till he lhould get well..
In-the evening: we crofied the bay to our-ftation, in a-
canoe, which Futtafaihe had exercifed his' prerogative in.
procuring, by calling to-the firft- that palled by. He had
alfo got a large-hog at-this place.; and brought a fervant
from his houfe with a bundle of cloth, which he wanted
us to take with us, as a prefent from him. But the boat,
being fmall, we objected ; and he ordered it to be brought,
over to us the next day,”
I had prolonged my ftay at this illand, on account of the
approaching eclipfe.;. but, on the. ad of July, on looking Wedntf. *-•.
at the micrometer belonging to the- board of longitude, I
found'fome of the rack work broken, and the inftrument
ufelefs till repaired; which there was not time to.do before
it was intended to be ufed. Preparing, now for our de,
parture, I got on board, this day, all the cattle, poultry, and
other animals, except fuch as were deftined to remain. I
had deligned to leave a turkey-cock and hen; but having
now only two of each undifpofed of, one of the- liens,,
through the ignorance of one of my people, was ftrangled,.
and!