1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Q5 



they were of no manner of use to him ; that a baked 

 hog was more savoury food than a boiled one ; that a 

 plantain-leaf made as good a dish or plate as pewter; 

 and that a cocoa-nut shell was as convenient a goblet 

 as a black-jack. And, therefore, he very wisely dis- 

 posed of as many of these articles of English furni- 

 ture for the kitchen and pantry, as he could find 

 purchasers for, amongst the people of the ships ; re- 

 ceiving from them, in return, hatchets, and other iron 

 tools, which had a more intrinsic value in this part of 

 the world, and added more to his distinguishing su- 

 periority over those with whom he was to pass the 

 remainder of his days. 



In the long list of the presents bestowed upon him 

 in England, fire-works had not been forgot. Some 

 of these we exhibited in the evening of the 28th, be- 

 fore a great concourse of people, who beheld them 

 with a mixture of pleasure and fear. What remained, 

 after the evening's entertainment, were put in order, 

 and left with Omai, agreeably to their original destin- 

 ation. Perhaps we need not lament it as a serious mis- 

 fortune, that the far greater share of this part of his 

 cargo had been already expended in exhibitions at 

 other islands, or rendered useless by being kept so long. 



Between midnight and four in the morning of the 

 30th, the Bolabola man, whom I had in confinement, 

 found means to make his escape out of the ship. He 

 carried with him the shackle of the bilboo-bolt that 

 was about his leg, which was taken from him, as soon 

 as he got on shore, by one of the chiefs, and given to 

 Omai ; who came on board very early in the morn- 

 ing, to acquaint me that his mortal enemy was again 

 let loose upon him. Upon enquiry, it appeared, 

 that not only the sentry, placed over the prisoner, 

 but the whole watch upon the quarter-deck where 

 he was confined, had laid themselves down to sleep. 

 He seized the opportunity to take the key of the 

 irons out of the binnacle -drawer, where he had 

 seen it put, and set himself at liberty. This es- 



