1786. Hand what we wanted, than they brought us plenty of wood, fuel» December. _ J . 0 r M ’
v—-1 as aniwered our purpofe extremely well, -and which we purchafed
on the fame eafy terms as the water.
During the 5th and 6th, we were all very bufily employed 5
fome taking in wood from the natives; others over-hauling the
rigging, &c. and the reft killing and faking hogs for fea-ftore.
The weather lince the il l has been fine and'fettled, with a fteady
breeze at North North Eaft.
From the 7th to the 10th the wind blew frelh, at Eaft North
E a ft; and the fea running pretty high, very few canoes came near
us. This weather, however, did not prevent the King and his
attendants from paying us frequent vilits ; but it was very apparent!
that intereft, more than curiofity, induced him to come on board
fo often ; for though he always brought fomething, by way of a
Matano, or prefent, yet it was generally very trivial, fuch as a fmall
hog, a few cocoa-nuts,, and fometimes a few fmall barbel; and
Captain Dixon always gave him ten times the value. Indeed it
would have been extremely impolitic not to have paid him this
mark of our refpeft and attention, as he could, by tabooing the
inhabitants, have eafily prevented a fingle canoe from coming near
us s but by thus feeding his avarice, and gratifying his ambition,
he not only allowed, but encouraged the people to bring us whatever
the ifland afforded. The wind ftill continued at Eaft North
E a ft; the weather moderate and fine.
Soon after we came to anchor, our whale-boat was hoifted out,
to be in readinefs whenever occafion required; and was generally
fecured by her painter to the fhip’s ftern. A boy was ordered to
look after her in the day-time, and in the night, the watch always
2 ' kept
kebt a good look o u t; and having moon-light, the boat hitherto 1786.
had been fafe; but m the evening of the n th , tome or the natives v_____j
had formed a defign to fteal her, (the moon notrifing till paft midnight)
and we faw feveral canoes bufy about her painter. On
this, Captain Dixon fired two mufquets over their heads, which
made them fheer off with precipitation, and we got her on board
next day, for fear of a fecond villt of the like nature.
In the forenoon of the 12th, we caught a large fhark, and knowing
it would be a very acceptable prefent to the King, Captain Dixon
fent to inform fome of his people who happened to be on board
the King George of it.
Teereteere prefently fent his fon, with feveral attendants,
in a large canoe, for the lhark, which feemed to pleafe them very
■ much. The King fent a fine hog by his fon, as an equivalent for
our prefent; hut the young man, with a degree of honefty peculiar
to his country, fold us the hog for a large toe.
The lafl: time we were at Whahoo, in failing from thence to
Atoui, we paffed a bay to the Weftward of our prefent fituation,
which promifed to afford a good harbour; the furrounding country
fertile, and full of inhabitants. At that time we had no opportunity
of examining it, but now, having fufficient leifure, on the
1 3th Captain Portlock fent his long boat, (which had been decked,
and fchooiier-rigged, fmee we came to Whahoo) with Mr. Hayward,
his Third Mate, accompanied by our Third Mate, Mr.
White, to furvey the bay accurately.
' Mr. Hayward returned in the morning of the 13th, and reported,
that there was no convenient anchorage iii ahy part of the Bay1;
and