we had gained. Next morning, being still off the S.W. point of
the island, some canoes came off; but they had nothing that we were
in want of. We had now neither fruit nor roots, and were under a
necessity of making use of some of our sea-provisions. At length, some
canoes from the northward brought us a small supply of hogs and roots.

We had variable light airs next to a calm, the following day, till
five in the afternoon, when a small breeze at E.N.E. springing up,
we were at last enabled to steer along shore to the northward. The
weather being fine, we had plenty of company this day, and abundance
of every thing. Many of our visitors remained with us on board all
night, and we towed their canoes astern.

At day-break on the 16th, seeing the appearance of a bay, I sent Mr
Bligh, with a boat from each ship, to examine it, being at this time
three leagues off. Canoes now began to arrive from all parts; so that
before ten o'clock, there were no fewer than a thousand about the two
ships, most of them crowded with people, and well laden with hogs and
other productions of the island. We had the most satisfying proof of
their friendly intentions; for we did not see a single person who had
with him a weapon of any sort. Trade and curiosity alone had brought
them off. Among such numbers as we had at times on board, it is no
wonder that some should betray a thievish disposition. One of our
visitors took out of the ship a boat's rudder. He was discovered,
but too late to recover it. I thought this a good opportunity to shew
these people the use of fire-arms; and two or three muskets, and as
many four-pounders, were fired over the canoe, which carried off
the rudder. As it was not intended that any of the shot should take
effect, the surrounding multitude of natives seemed rather more
surprised than frightened.

In the evening Mr Bligh returned, and reported, that he had found
a bay in which was good anchorage, and fresh water in a situation
tolerably easy to be come at. Into this bay I resolved to carry the
ships, there to refit, and supply ourselves with every refreshment
that the place could afford. As night approached, the greater part of
our visitors retired to the shore, but numbers of them requested our
permission to sleep on board. Curiosity was not the only motive, at
least with some; for, the next morning, several things were missing,
which determined me not to entertain so many another night.

At eleven o'clock i