toa-wood, which had been cut at Eimeo for anchor-stocks, were
found fit to replace the sprung part of the fishes. As these repairs
were likely to take up several days, Mr Bayly and myself got the
astronomical apparatus on shore, and pitched our tents on the _morai_;
having with us a guard of a corporal and six marines. We renewed
our friendly correspondence with the priests, who, for the greater
security of the workmen and their tools, _tabooed_ the place where the
mast lay, sticking their wands round it, as before. The sail-makers
were also sent on shore, to repair the damages which had taken place
in their department during the late gales. They were lodged in a house
adjoining to the _morai_ that was lent us by the priests. Such were
our arrangements on shore. I shall now proceed to the account of those
other transactions with the natives, which led, by degrees, to the
fatal catastrophe of the 14th.

Upon coming to anchor, we were surprised to find our reception very
different from what it had been on our first arrival; no shouts, no
bustle, no confusion; but a solitary bay, with only here and there a
canoe, stealing close along the shore. The impulse of curiosity, which
had before operated to so great a degree, might now indeed be supposed
to have ceased; but the hospitable treatment we had invariably met
with, and the friendly footing on which we parted, gave us some reason
to expect, that they would again have flocked about us with great joy
on our return.

We were forming various conjectures upon the occasion of this
extraordinary appearance, when our anxiety was at length relieved by
the return of a boat, which had been sent on shore, and brought us
word, that Terreeoboo was absent, and had left the bay under the
_taboo_. Though this account appeared very satisfactory to most of
us, yet others were of opinion, or rather, perhaps, have been led, by
subsequent events, to imagine, that there was something, at this
time, very suspicious in the behaviour of the natives; and that the
interdiction of all intercourse with us, on pretence of the king's
absence, was only to give him time to consult with his chiefs in what
manner it might be proper to treat us. Whether these suspicions were
well founded, or the account given by the natives was the truth, we
were never able to ascertain. For, though it is not improbable that
our sudden return, for which they could see no apparent cause, and the
necessity of which we afterw