THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



125 



ward (which was their intention), for want of wind, they , >777- 

 had proceeded to Bolabola, and from thence to the fmall w— .^rL]J 

 ifland Toobaee, where they were taken by the father of 

 Pootoe, in confequence of the firft meiTage fent to Opoony. 

 As foon as they were on board, the three prifoners were re- 

 leafed. Thus ended an affair, which had given me much 

 trouble and vexation. Nor would I have exerted myfclf fo 

 refolutely on the occafion, but for the reafon before men- 

 tioned, and to fave the fon of a brother officer from being 

 loft to his country. 



The wind continued conftantly between the North and December. 

 Weft, and confined us in the harbour, till eight o'clock in ^""'^*>'7- 

 morning of the 7th of December ; when wc took the ad- 

 vantage of a light breeze which then fprung up at North 

 Eaft, and, with the affiftance of all the boats, got out to fca 

 with the Difcovery in company. 



During the laft week, we had been vifited by people from 

 all parts of the ifland, who furnifhed us with a large flock 

 of hogs and green plantains. So that the time we lay 

 wind-bound in the harbour was not entirely lofl ; green 

 plantains being an excellent fubftitute for bread, as they 

 will keep good a fortnight, or three weeks. Bcfides this 

 fupply of proviflons, we alfo completed our wood and water.. 



The inhabitants of Ulietea feemed, in general, fmaller 

 and blacker than thofe of the other neighbouring iflands ; 

 and appeared alfo lefs orderly, which, perhaps, may be con- 

 fidered as the confequence of their having become fubjecfl 

 to the natives of Bolabola. Oreo, their Chief, is only a fort 

 of deputy of the fovereign of that ifland ; and the conqueft 

 feems to have lefTened the number of fubordinate Chiefs 

 refident among them 5 fo that they are lefs immediately 



vinder 



