1777' THE pacific OCEAN. 293 



violet-coloured coots. All these they exchanged 

 with us for beads, nails, hatchets, &c. They had 

 also other articles of commerce; such as pieces of 

 their cloth, fish-hooks, small baskets, musical reeds, 

 and some clubs, spears, and bows. But I ordered 

 that no curiosities should be purchased, till the ships 

 should be supplied with provisions, and leave given 

 for that purpose. Knowing, also, from experience, 

 that if all our people might trade with the natives, 

 according to their own caprice, perpetual quarrels 

 w r ould ensue, I ordered that particular persons should 

 manage the traffic both on board and on shore, pro- 

 hibiting all others to interfere. Before mid-day, 

 Mr. King's boat returned with seven hogs, some 

 fowls, a quantity of fruit and roots for ourselves, and 

 some grass for the cattle. His party was very civilly 

 treated at Komango. The inhabitants did not seem 

 to be numerous; and their huts, which stood close to 

 each other, within a plantain walk, were but indif- 

 ferent. Not far from them, was a pretty large pond 

 of fresh water, tolerably good; but there was not any 

 appearance of a stream. With Mr. King, came on 

 board the chief of the island, named Tooboulangee; 

 and another, whose name was Taipa. They brought 

 with them a hog as a present to me, and promised 

 more the next day. 



As soon as the boats were aboard. I stood for 

 Annamooka; and the wind being scant, I intended 

 to go between Annamooka-ette*, and the breakers to 

 the south-east of it. But, on drawing near, we met 

 with very irregular soundings, varying, every cast, ten 

 or twelve fathoms. This obliged me to give up the 

 design, and to go to the southward of all; which 

 carried us to leeward, and made it necessary to spend 

 the night under sail. It was very dark; and we had 

 the wind, from every direction, accompanied with 

 heavy showers of rain. So that, at day-light the next 

 morning, we found ourselves much farther off' than 



* That is, Little Annamooka. 



u8 



