1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 10,5 



we find, when they are not disturbed by intestine 

 broils, but live in amity with one another, which has 

 been the case for some years past, that their produc- 

 tions are in the greatest plenty ; and, particularly, 

 the most valuable of all the articles, their hogs. 



If we had had a larger assortment of goods, and 

 a sufficient quantity of salt on board, I make no 

 doubt that we might have salted as much pork as 

 would have served both ships near twelve months. 

 But our visiting the Friendly Islands, and our long 

 stay at Otaheite and the neighbourhood, quite ex- 

 hausted our trading commodities ; particularly our 

 axes, with which alone hogs, in general, were to be 

 purchased. And we had hardly salt enough to cure 

 fifteen puncheons of meat. Of these, five were 

 added to our stock of provisions at the Friendly 

 Islands, and the other ten at Otaheite. Captain 

 Clerke also salted a proportionable quantity for his 

 ship. 



The process was the same that had been adopted 

 by me in my last voyage ; and it may be worth while 

 to describe it again. The hogs were killed in the 

 evening ; as soon as they were cleaned, they were 

 cut up, the bones taken out, and the meat salted 

 when it was hot. It was then laid in such a position 

 as to permit the juices to drain from it, till the next 

 morning, when it was again salted, packed into a 

 cask, and covered with pickle. Here it remained 

 for four or five days, or a week ; after which it was 

 taken out and examined, piece by piece, and if there 

 was any found to be in the least tainted, as sometimes 

 happened, it was separated from the rest, which was 

 repacked into another cask, headed up, and filled 

 with good pickle. In about eight or ten days' time, 

 it underwent a second examination ; but this seemed 

 unnecessary, as the whole was generally found to be 

 perfectly cured. A mixture of bay and of white 

 salt, answers the best ; but either of them will do 

 alone. Great care should be taken, that none of the 



