1778* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 181 



some time, became less active in appropriating to 

 themselves whatever they took a fancy to, it was 

 because they found that we kept a watchful eye over 

 them. 



At nine o'clock, being pretty near the shore, I 

 sent three armed boats, under the command of Lieu- 

 tenant Williamson, to look for a landing-place, and 

 for fresh water. I ordered him, that if he should 

 find it necessarv to land in search of the latter, not 

 to suffer more than one man to go with him out of 

 the boats. Just as they were putting off from the 

 ship, one of the natives having stolen the butcher's 

 cleaver, leaped overboard, got into his canoe, and 

 hastened to the shore, the boats pursuing him in vain. 



The order not to permit the crews of the boats to 

 go on shore was issued, that I might do every thing 

 in my power to prevent the importation of a fatal 

 disease into this island, which I knew some of our 

 men laboured under, and which, unfortunately, had 

 been already communicated by us to other islands in 

 these seas. With the same view, I ordered all female 

 visitors to be excluded from the ships. Many of 

 them had come off' in the canoes. Their size, colour, 

 and features did not differ much from those of the 

 men ; and though their countenances were remark- 

 ably open and agreeable, there were few traces of 

 delicacy to be seen, either in their faces, or other 

 proportions. The only difference in their dress, was 

 their having a piece of cloth about the body, reaching 

 from near the middle to half-way down the thighs, 

 instead of the maro worn by the other sex. They 

 would as readily have favoured us with their company 

 on board as the men ; but I wished to prevent all 

 connection, which might, too probably, convey an 

 irreparable injury to themselves, and through their 

 means, to the whole nation. Another necessary pre- 

 caution was taken, by strictly enjoining, that no 

 person, known to be capable of propagating the in- 

 fection, should be sent upon duty out of the ships. 



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