PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 319 



those who had already been there had had their chap. 

 curiosity satisfied to feel in no way disposed to risk *— v— 

 another visit. The want of their favourite dish Poe i826.' 

 was, besides, so serious an inconvenience that when 

 allusion was made to England, this privation was 

 always mentioned. 



Our reception was friendly in the extreme ; all 

 our wants, as far as possible, were supplied, but un- 

 fortunately there was this year a scarcity of almost 

 every kind of production ; the protracted rainy sea- 

 son and other circumstances having conspired to de- 

 stroy or lessen the crops, and the whole population 

 was in consequence suffering from its effects. There 

 was also a scarcity of dried provision, our visit having 

 preceded the usual time of the arrival of the whalers, 

 who discharge all they can spare at this place pre- 

 vious to their return home. Our expectation of 

 replenishing the ship's provisions was consequently 

 disappointed, and it therefore became necessary to re- 

 duce the daily allowance of the ship's company, and 

 to pursue the same economical system here, with 

 regard to taro and yams, as was done at Otaheite 

 with the bread-fruit. 



The few days I had to remain here were devoted 

 to astronomical and other observations, and I had 

 but little opportunity of judging of the state of the 

 island ; but from a letter which I received from 

 Boki, it was evident that he did not approve of the 

 system of religious restraint that had been forced 

 into operation, which was alike obnoxious to the 

 foreigners residing upon the island and to the natives. 



At the time of our departure the health of Mr. 

 Lay was by no means restored, and as it appeared to 

 me that his time during the absence of the ship could 



