188 cook's second voyage SEPT. 



and gave it to one of my people who was by me, and 

 then went away with her, and I saw him no more. 



In the afternoon our boats returned from Otaha, 

 pretty well laden with plantains ; an article we were 

 most in want of. They made the circuit of the island, 

 conducted by one of the earees, whose name was 

 Boba, and were hospitably entertained by the people, 

 who provided them with victuals and lodging. The 

 first night they were entertained with a play ; the 

 second night their repose was disturbed by the na- 

 tives stealing their military chest : this put them on 

 making reprisals, by which means they recovered the 

 most of what they had lost. 



Having now got on board a large supply of refresh- 

 ments, I determined to put to sea the next morning, 

 and made the same known to the chief, who promised 

 to see me again before we departed. At four o'clock 

 we began to unmoor ; and, as soon as it was light, 

 Oreo, his son, and some of his friends, came on 

 board. Many canoes also came off with fruit and 

 hogs ; the latter they even begged of us to take from 

 them, calling out Tiyo boa atoi, I am your friend, 

 take my hog, and give me an axe ; but our decks 

 were already so full of them that we could hardly 

 move, having on board both ships between three 

 and four hundred. By the increase of our stock, 

 together with what we had salted and consumed, I 

 judge that we got at this island four hundred or up- 

 wards : many, indeed, were only roasters ; others 

 again weighed one hundred pounds, or upwards ; but 

 the general run was from forty to sixty. It is not 

 easy to say how many we might have got, could we 

 have found room for all that were offered us. 



The chief and his friends did not leave me till we 

 were under sail ; and, before he went away, pressed 

 me much to know if I would not return, and when? 

 Questions which were daily put to me by many of 

 these islanders. My Otaheitean youth's leaving me 

 proved of no consequence, as many young men of 



