t, and
they would receive good things in return; that we took nothing without
their consent; and finally that every man was to quit the place (the
house we occupied) at night; for if they made any visit in the dark they
would be killed. With this speech the ceremony ended.

I found this a delightful situation and in every respect convenient. The
ship was perfectly sheltered by the reefs in smooth water and close to a
fine beach without the least surf. A small river with very good water
runs into the sea about the middle of the harbour. I gave directions for
the plants to be landed and the same party to be with them as at Matavai.
Tinah fixed his dwelling close to our station.

Monday 29.

Some of the natives took advantage of the butcher's negligence and stole
his cleaver. I complained of this to the chiefs who were on board and
they promised that they would endeavour to recover it; but an article so
valuable as this was to the natives I had no great expectation of seeing
restored.

The ship continued to be supplied by the natives as usual. Coconuts were
in such plenty that I believe not a pint of water was drunk on board the
ship in the twenty-four hours. Breadfruit began to be scarce though we
purchased without difficulty a sufficient quantity for our consumption:
there was however another harvest approaching which they expected would
be fit for use in five or six weeks. The better kind of plantains also
were become scarce; but a kind which they call vayhee were in great
plenty. This fruit does not hang on the trees like the other kinds but
grows upon an upright stalk of considerable strength and substance.
Though this plantain is inferior in quality to most of the others it
affords great subsistence to the natives. We received almost every day
presents of fish, chiefly dolphin and albacore, and a few small rock
fish. Their fishing is mostly in the night when they make strong lights
on the reefs which attract the fish to them. Sometimes in fine weather
the canoes are out in such numbers that the whole sea appears
illuminated. In the canoes they fish with hook and line and on the reefs
they struck the fish with a spear. Some likewise carry out small nets
which are managed by two men. In the daytime their fishing canoes go
without the reefs, sometimes to a considerable distance, where they fish
with rods and lines and catch bonetas and other fish. Whenever there is a
show of fish a fleet of canoes immediately procee