*7^7- wards Pritane, and how far it was off: in fhort, he was very in-
. e^r™ry; quifitive; many of his queftions were remarkably pertinent, and f»t
far from being afked merely to gratify an idle curiofity, (though-
even then they would have been natural enough) that they mani-
fefted an eager delire of information, and evidently lhewed, that
the queftioner was poffefled of ftrong natural abilities.-
Before his Majelty left the veffel, Captain Dixon made him a*
prefent of a few toes, and fome beads, which pleafed very much,
and he told us the taboo Ihould be taken off, and the people differed
to trade with us as before. He was as good as his word, anti
in a day or two, things-were in their former channel, the natives
Bringing us hogs, taro, fugar-cane, cocoa-nuts, plantains, watery
curiofities, &c. as ufuaL
I have before oblerved, that the weather was moderate and
fine; and that this opportunity might be improved to the belt advantage,
the carpenters of both veffels were very bufily employed
m caulking the decks, fides, and wherever occafion required; the
ftem, and quarter-boards were frelh painted, and the fides paid
with a compofition of pitch, tar, and oil. The rigging was overhauled,
and any occafional repairs made that were found neeeffary;
and that nothing might be omitted which could poffibly conduce
towards perfectly eftablilhing the health of our fhips companies,
and enable us to profecute the approaching ftafon with vigour, an
agreement was made with Abbenooe for our people to recreate
themfelves on fhore, without being molefted by the natives • he
alfo was to provide fufficient refrefhments for them, when
there,
I was on fhore in one of thefe parties of pleafure; an account of
which excurfion, and the fumptuous dinner provided for us by
Abbenooe, fhall be the fubject of my next. Mean while believe
mo- to be fincerely thine,
W . B,
A toui, >
9th Feb. J
l e t t e r XXVI.
-p my my memory ferves me right, I promifed thee, at the condui
t lion of my laft, fome account of an excurfion I had made on
fhore at Atoui, and the reception I met with there. Promifes, in
my humble opinion, whatever the generality of the world may
think, fhould ever be held facred and inviolable; therefore I fhall
endeavour to fulfil mine, in the belt manner I am able.
The weather, in the morning of the 9th of February, being fine,
I went along with Mr. White, and feveral of our people, to take a
day’s recreation on fhore. When we got near the beach, the furf
ran fo high, that we brought our boat to an anchor two cables
length from it ; but our good friend Abbenooe had taken care to
provide againft this inconvenience, and got a number of his people
ready with canoes to land us, which they did as fafely, and with as
much expedition, as a London Waterman could do at Tower
Stairs.-