1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 363 



towards the south end of the island, the chief ordered 

 us to land near some houses, where we did not wait 

 long before all the articles were brought to us, except 

 the pinnace's iron tiller, which I was told was still 

 farther off. But, when I wanted to go after it, I 

 found the chief unwilling to proceed ; and he actually 

 gave me the slip, and retired into the country. With- 

 out him I knew I could do nothing. The people 

 began to be alarmed when they saw I was for going 

 farther ; by which I concluded that the tiller was out 

 of their reach also. I therefore sent one of them to 

 the chief to desire him to return. He returned 

 accordingly ; when we sat down, and had some 

 victuals set before us ; thinking perhaps that, as I had 

 not breakfasted, I must be hungry, and not in a good- 

 humour. Thus I was amused till two hogs were pro- 

 duced, which they intreated me to accept. This I 

 did, and then their fears vanished ; and I thought 

 myself not ill off in having gotten two good hogs for 

 a thing which seemed to be quite out of my reach. 

 Matters being thus settled, we returned on board, 

 and had the company of the chief and his son to din- 

 ner. After that we all went ashore, where a play was 

 acted for the entertainment of such as would spend 

 their time in looking at it. Besides these plays, 

 which the chief caused frequently to be acted, there 

 were a set of strolling players in the neighbourhood, 

 who performed every day. But their pieces seemed 

 to be so much alike, that we soon grew tired of them ; 

 especially as we could not collect any interesting cir- 

 cumstances from them. We, our ship, and our coun- 

 try, were frequently brought on the stage ; but on 

 what account I know not. It can hardly be doubt- 

 ed, that this was designed as a compliment to us, and 

 probably not acted but when some of us were present. 

 I generally appeared at Oreo's theatre towards the 

 close of the play, and twice at the other, in order to 

 give my mite to the actors. The only actress at 

 Oreo's theatre was his daughter, a pretty brown girl, 



