other person in the canoe
for the weather did not admit of useless passengers: each of them had a
paddle which they managed with great activity and skill. These kind
people embraced me with many tears and expressed their apprehensions for
the safety of the ship. Towards noon however the sea abated considerably,
but the wind continued to blow strong from the north-west. At sunset
Iddeah went on shore but Tinah would remain with me the whole night.

Sunday 7.

The wind continued between the north and north-west but had so much
moderated that I no longer considered our situation to be alarming. At
noon Iddeah returned to the ship with a large hog and a supply of
breadfruit and coconuts; and soon after she and Tinah left the ship,
having exacted a promise from me that if the weather was moderate I would
go on shore in the morning and visit their parents and sister who, they
told me, had been much alarmed on our account. I received a visit
likewise from Poeeno and his wife. This woman had always shown great
regard for us; and now, on our meeting, before I could be aware of it,
she began beating her head violently with a shark's tooth so that her
face was covered with blood in an instant. I put a stop to this as soon
as I could, and with the drying up of the blood her agitation subsided.
This ceremony is frequently performed upon occasions either of joy or
grief. Her husband said that if any accident happened to the ship I
should live with him and that they would cut down trees and build me
another ship.

From this sample of the weather and the information of the natives I was
convinced it would not be safe to continue in Matavai Bay much longer;
and I determined to get everything ready for sailing as speedily as I
could.

Monday 8.

The night proved moderate and in the morning I went on shore where I was
received by Oberreeroah, and several other friends with great affection.

The plants received no injury from the bad weather having been carefully
covered from the spray of the sea: some were in a dormant state and
others were striking out young shoots. Nelson thought that it was better
to refrain a few days from taking them on board; I therefore consented to
defer it. He was of opinion that the plants could be propagated from the
roots only, and I directed some boxes to be filled as we could stow them
where no others could be placed.

Tuesday 9.

This afternoon, in hauling the launch on shore to be repaired, many