THEPACIFICOCEAN. 195 



fci'ent as to a looking-glafs, which was offered them, and ^n^- 

 returned it, for the fame rcafon ; but fufficiently expreffed 

 their defire for hamaitc and toe, which they wifhed might be 

 very large. Plates of earthen- ware, china- cups, and other 

 fuch things, were fo new to them, that ihey afked if they 

 were made of wood ; but wiflied to have forae, that they 

 might carry them to be looked at on Ihore. They were, in 

 fome refpe<51:s, naturally well bred ; or, at leaft, fearful of 

 giving offence, afking, where they fliould fit down, whether 

 they might fpit upon the deck, and the like. Some of them 

 repeated a long prayer before they came on board ; and 

 others, afterward, fung and made motions with their hands, 

 fuch as we had been accultomed to fee in the dances of the 

 iflands we had lately vifited. There was another circura- 

 flance, in which they alfo perfeftly refembled thofe other 

 iflanders. At firft, on their entering the fhip, they endea- 

 voured to fleal every thing they came near ; or rather to 

 take it openly, as v/hat we either fliould not refent, or not 

 hinder. We foon convinced them of their mitlake ; and if 

 they, after fome time, became lefs active in appropriatmg 

 to themfelves whatever they took a fancy to, it was becaufe 

 they found that we kept a watchful eye over them. 



At nine o'clock, being pretty near the Ihore, I fent three 

 armed boats, under the command of Lieutenant William- 

 fon, to look for a landing-place, and for frefli water. 1 or- 

 dered him, that if he fliould find it ncceffary to land in 

 fearch of the latter, not to fuffer more than one man to go 

 with him out of the boats. Juft as they were putting off 

 from the fliip, one of the natives having ftolen the butcher's 

 cleaver, leaped overboard, got into his canoe, and hailened 

 to the fhore, the boats purfuing him iu vain. 



Cc a The 



