{ Z{)6 cook's voyage to may, 



Toobou's house was covered with mats ; and no 

 carpet in the most elegant English drawing-room 

 could be kept neater. While we were on shore, 

 we procured a few hogs, and some fruit, by barter- 

 ing ; and, before we got on board again, the ships 

 were crowded with the natives. Few of them 

 coming empty-handed, every necessary refreshment 

 was now in the greatest plenty. 



I landed again in the afternoon, with a party of 

 marines ; and, at the same time, the horses, and 

 such of the cattle as were in a weakly state, were 

 sent on shore. Every thing being settled to my 

 satisfaction, I returned to the ship at sunset, leaving 

 the command upon the island to Mr. King. Taipa, 

 who was now become our fast friend, and who 

 seemed to be the only active person about us, in 

 order to be near our party in the night, as well as 

 the day, had a house brought on men's shoulders 

 -a full quarter of a mile, and placed close to the shed 

 which our party occupied. 



Next day our various operations on shore began. 

 Some were employed in making hay for the cattle ; 

 others in filling our water-casks at tiie neighbouring 

 stagnant pool ; and a third party in cutting wood. The 

 greatest plenty of this last article being abreast of 

 the ships, and in a situation the most convenient for 

 getting it on board, it was natural to make choice of 

 this. But the trees here, which our people errone- 

 ously supposed to be manchineel, but were a species 

 of pepper, called faitanoo by the natives, yielded a 

 juice of a milky colour, of so corrosive a nature, that 

 it raised blisters on the skin, and injured the eyes of 

 our workmen. They were, therefore, obliged to 

 desist at this place, and remove to the cove, in which 

 our guard was stationed, and where we embarked 

 our water. Other wood, more suitable to our pur- 

 poses, was there furnished to us by the natives. 

 These were not the only employments we were en- 

 gaged in, lor Messrs. King and Bayly began this 



