1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 09 



I have occasionally mentioned my receiving con- 

 siderable presents from Otoo, and the rest of the fa- 

 mily, without specifying what returns I made. It is 

 customary for these people, when they make a pre- 

 sent, to let us know what they expect in return ; and 

 we find it necessary to gratify them ; so that what 

 we get by way of present, comes dearer than what 

 we get by barter. But as we were sometimes pressed 

 by occasional scarcity, we could have recourse to our 

 friends for a present, or supply, when we could not 

 get our wants relieved by any other method ; and 

 therefore, upon the whole, this way of traffic was 

 full as advantageous to us as to the natives. For the 

 most part, I paid for each separate article as I re- 

 ceived it, except in my intercourse with Otoo. His 

 presents generally came so fast upon me, that no 

 account was kept between us. Whatever he asked 

 for, that I could spare, he had whenever he asked 

 for it ; and I always found him moderate in his de- 

 mands. 



If I could have prevailed upon Omai to fix him- 

 self at Otaheite, I should not have left it so soon as I 

 did ; for there was not a probability of our being 

 better or cheaper supplied with refreshments at any 

 other place, than we continued to be here, even at 

 the time of our leaving it. Besides, such a cordial 

 friendship and confidence subsisted between us and 

 the inhabitants, as could hardly be expected any 

 where else ; and, it was a little extraordinary, that 

 this friendly intercourse had never once been sus- 

 pended by any untoward accident; nor had there 

 been a theft committed that deserves to be mentioned. 

 Not that I believe their morals, in this respect, to be 

 much mended ; but am rather of opinion, that their 

 regularity of conduct was owing to the fear the chiefs 

 were under of interrupting a traffic which they 

 might consider as the means of securing to them- 

 selves a more considerable share of our commodities 

 than could have been got by plunder or pilfering. 



F 3" 



