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boat from each {hip was employed trading on fiiore, and bringing off their cargoes asfoon as they were laden, which was generally in a fhort time. By this method theygot cheaper, and with lefs trouble, a good quantity of fruit, as well as other refrefh-ments, from people who had no canoes to carry them off to the (hips.
Pretty early in the morning, the 5th of Ottober, the pinnace was lent alhore to tradeas ufual; but foon returned. The officer informed the captain that the natives weref°r taking every thing out of the boat, and, in other refpedfts, were very troublefome.The day before, they ftole the grappling at the time the boat was riding by it, andcarried it off undifcovered. It was now judged neceffary to have a guard on ihore,to protedl the boats and people whofe bufinefs required their being there; accord-ingly, they fent a few of the marines, under the command of LieutenantTdgecumbe.
The different trading parties were fo fuccefsful as to procure for both Ihips a tolerablegood fupply of refreshments; in confequence of which, Captain Cook , the nextmorning, gave every one leave to purchafe what curiolities they pleafed. After this,tt Was altoniffiing to fee with what eagernefs every one caught at every thing he faw.^ even went fo far as to become the ridicule of the natives, who offered pieces of flicksand {tones to exchange. One waggiffi boy took a piece of human excrement on thee nd of a flick, and held it out to every one he met with.
A man got into the mailer’s cabin, through the outfide fcuttle, and took out fomebooks and other things. He was difcovered juft as he was getting out into his canoe,and purfued by one of the boats, which obliged him to quit the canoe and take to theWater. The people in the boat made feveral attempts to lay hold on him ; but he asoften dived under the boat, and at laft unihipped the rudder, which rendered herUngovernable ; by this means he got clear off. Some other very daring theftsWere committed at the landing-place. One fellow took a feaman’s jacket out ofthe boat, and carried it off, in fpite of all that the people in her could do. Tillhe was purfued and fired at by them, he would not part with it; nor would hehave- done it then, had not his landing been intercepted by fome of the crew whoWere on Ihore. The reft of the natives, who were very numerous, took verylittle notice of the whole tranfaclion; nor were they the leaft alarmed when the manWas fired at.
Attago vifited Captain Cook again the next morning, the 7th, and brought with hima hog, and affifted him in purchafing feveral more. This day the captain was told byme officers who were on Ihore, that a far greater man than any they had yet feen wasc °me to pay them a vifit. Mr. Pickerfgill informed them that he had feen him in thecountry, and found that he was a man of fome confequence, by the extraordinary* e fpect paid to him by the people. Some, when they approached him, fell on theirtac es, and put their head between their feet; and no one durft pafs him withoutP er miffion. Mr. Pickerfgill, and another of the gentlemen, took hold of his arms,a ad conducted him down to the landing-place, where the captain found him feated^ 1{ h fo much fullen and ftupid gravity, that notwithftanding what had been told him,really took him for an ideot, whom the people, from fome fuperftitious notionsWere ready to worihip. He faluted and fpoke to him; but he neither anfwered, norfook the leaft notice of him or any one; nor did he alter a fingle feature in his coun.e uance. This confirmed him in his opinion, and he was juft going to leave him,When one of the natives undertook to undeceive him; which he did in fuch a manneras left no room to doubt that he was the king, or principal man on the ifland. Ac-c °fdingly he made him a prefent, which confifted of a lhirt, an axe, a piece of red
cloth.