ovisions are daily carried over from Otaheite. Not less than a hundred
sail of canoes were at Tethuroa when our deserters were there.

Teppahoo and his wife were become my constant visitors: he had for some
time past been ill, and had made Oparre his place of residence for the
benefit of our surgeon's advice and assistance. At this time he
complained of a hoarseness and sore throat. Mr. Ledward, on examining
him, discovered there had been two holes in the roof of his mouth which,
though healed, had the appearance of having been large: the adjacent
parts appeared sound, yet the surgeon was of opinion that they were
cancerous and would in the end occasion his death.

Saturday 31.

This morning I ordered all the chests to be taken on shore, and the
inside of the ship to be washed with boiling water to kill the
cockroaches. We were constantly obliged to be at great pains to keep the
ship clear of vermin on account of the plants. By the help of traps and
good cats we were freed from rats and mice. When I was at Otaheite with
Captain Cook there were great numbers of rats about all the houses, and
so tame that they flocked round the people at their meals for the offals
which were commonly thrown to them; but at this time we scarce ever saw a
rat which must be attributed to the industry of a breed of cats left here
by European ships.

After breakfast I walked with Tinah to Matavai to see the cattle and the
gardens. Tinah had already taken so large a dose of the Ava that he was
perfectly stupefied. Iddeah however was with us, and she is one of the
most intelligent persons I met with at Otaheite. We went first to
Poeeno's house and saw the bull and cow together in a very fine pasture.
I was informed that the cow had taken the bull; so that if no untoward
accident happens there is a fair chance of the breed being established.
In the garden near Poeeno's house many things had failed. The Indian corn
was in a fine state and I have no doubt but they will cultivate it all
over the country. A fig-tree was in a very thriving way, as were two
vines, a pineapple plant, and some slips of a shaddock-tree. From this
place we walked to the garden at Point Venus, but I had the mortification
to find almost everything there destroyed by the hogs. Some underground
peas and Indian corn had escaped, and likewise the caliloo green and ocra
of Jamaica.

We returned to the ship, and after dinner I was not a little surprised to
hear Tinah seriousl