T H EPACIFICOCEAN. 129 



We landed where the natives diredled us : and, foon after, ^ '777. 



' December. 



I was introduced to Opoony, in the midft of a great con- 

 courfe of people. Having no time to lofe, as foon as the 

 neceflary formality of compliments was over, I alked the 

 Chief to give me the anchor, and produced the prefent I had 

 prepared for him, confiding of a linen night-gown, a Ihirt, 

 fome gauze handkerchiefs, a looking-glafs, fome beads, 

 and other toys ; and fix axes. At the fight of thefe laft, 

 there was a general outcry. I could only guefs the caufe, 

 by Opoony's abfolutely refufing to receive my prefent till I 

 fhould get the anchor. He ordered three men to go and de- 

 liver it to me ; and, as I underllood, I was to fend, by them, 

 what I thought proper in return. With thefe mclTengers, 

 we fet out in our boats for an ifland, lying at the North fide 

 of the entrance into the harbour, where the anchor had 

 been depofited. I found it to be neither fo large, nor fo per- 

 fedi, as I expelled. It had originally weighed feven hundred 

 pounds, according to the mark that was upon it j but the 

 ring, with part of the fliank, and the two palms, were now 

 wanting. I was no longer at a lofs to guefs the reafon of 

 Opoony's refufing my prefent. He, doubtlefs, thought that 

 it fo much exceeded the value of the anchor in its prefcnf 

 ftate, that I Ihould be difpleafed when I fuw it. Be this as 

 it may, I took the anchor as I found it, and fent him every 

 article of the prefent that I at firft intended. Having thus 

 completed my negociation, I returned on board ; and liav- 

 ing hoifted in the boats, made fail from the ifland to the 



North. 



» 



While the boats were hoifting in, fome of the natives 

 came off, in three or four canoes, to fee the fliips, as they 

 faid. They brought with them a few cocoa-nuts, and one 

 pig, wliich was the only one we got at the illand. I make 



Vol. II. S no 



