274 VOYAGE TO THE 



CI J^ P - tion of this kind for ourselves, as a Russian ship had 

 v -^y— ' just preceded us, the crew of which, according to the 

 1826.' natives, purchased every thing that was offered with- 

 out regard to price, at whom they laughed heartily, 

 because one of the officers had given a blue jacket in 

 exchange for a pearl which had been ingeniously 

 made out of an oyster-shell. 



Some of us, therefore, had recourse to the Euro- 

 pean residents, and fortunately obtained what cloth 

 and specie we wanted ; while others preferred bar- 

 tering such portions of their wardrobes as they 

 considered unnecessary for their approaching change 

 of climate. 



On the Monday succeeding our arrival, all the 

 stores of the ship that required removal were landed 

 and placed under a shed; the observatory was 

 erected close to the consulate ; a rope-walk was con- 

 structed, and the forge was put up under the shade of 

 some trees. Thus, as the shore was so near, all the 

 duties of the ship were carried on under our own 

 immediate superintendence far more expeditiously 

 than the confined space on board would have al- 

 lowed. The sick were also landed, and provided 

 with a place better adapted to their situation. 



The state of our provisions rendered it necessary 

 to observe the strictest economy, for we had been 

 confined to our own resources during several months, 

 and Otaheite afforded nothing except beef and pork, 

 nor had we any certainty of an opportunity of re- 

 plenishing them. The bread fruit was, fortunately, 

 at this time excellent, and was substituted for the 

 daily allowance of flour, at first in moderate pro- 

 portions, that no bad effects might arise from such 

 a change of diet; but, latterly, the crew were al- 



