24* cook's voyage to aug. 



station, I intrusted the command to Mr. King ; who, 

 at the same time, attended the observations for 

 ascertaining the going of the time-keeper, and other 

 purposes. During our stay, various necessary 

 operations employed the crews of both ships. The 

 Discovery's main-mast was carried ashore, and made 

 as good as ever. Our sails and water-casks were re- 

 paired ; the ships were caulked ; and the rigging all 

 overhauled. We also inspected all the bread that we 

 had on board in casks ; and had the satisfaction to 

 find, that but little of it was damaged. 



On the 6th, I had a piece of ground cleared for 

 a garden, and planted if. with several articles ; very 

 few of which, I believe, the natives will ever look 

 after. Some melons, potatoes, and two pine-apple 

 plants, were in a fair way of succeeding, before we 

 left the place. I had brought from the Friendly 

 Islands several shaddock-trees. These I also planted 

 here ; and they can hardly fail of success, unless their 

 growth should be checked by the same premature 

 curiosity, which destroyed a vine planted by the 

 Spaniards at Oheitepeha. A number of the natives 

 got together, to taste the first fruit it bore ; but, as 

 the grapes were still sour, they considered it as little 

 better than poison, and it was unanimously deter- 

 mined, to tread it under foot. In that state, Omai 

 found it by chance, and was overjoyed at the dis- 

 covery. For he had a full confidence, that, if he had 

 but grapes, he could easily make wine. Accordingly, 

 he had several slips cut from off t lie tree, to carry away 

 with him ; and we pruned and put in order the re- 

 mains of it. Probably, grown wise by Omai's in- 

 structions, they may now sufier the fruit to grow to 

 perfection, and not pass so hasty a sentence upon 

 it again. 



We had not been eight-and-forty hours at anchor 

 in Matavai Bay, before we were visited by our old 

 friends, whose names are recorded in the account of 

 my last voyage. Not one of them came empty- 



