THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



73 



other was pulling out the iron work at the other. If we 

 milTed a thing immediately after it had been ftolen, wc 

 found little difficulty in detedling the thief, as they were 

 ready enough to impeach one another. But the guilty per- 

 fon generally relinquifhed his prize with relu(5lancc j and 

 fometimes we found it neceflary to have recourfe to force. 



The fhips being fecurely moored, we began our other Apni» 

 neceffary bufinefs the next day. The obfervatories were ^^'^'"'*'^' '• 

 carried afhore, and placed upon an elevated rock on one fide 

 of the cove, clofe to the Refolution. A party of men, with 

 an officer, was fent to cut wood, and to clear a place for the 

 conveniency of watering. Others were employed to brew 

 fpruce-beer, as pine trees abounded here. The forge was 

 alfo fet up, to make the iron-work wanting for the re- 

 pairs of the fore-maft. For, befides one of the bibs being 

 defecTiive, the larboard trefllc-tree, and one of the crofs-trces 

 were fprung. 



A confiderable number of the natives vifited us daily ; 

 and, every now and then, we faw new faces. On their firft 

 coming, they generally went through a fingular mode of 

 introducing themfelves. They would paddle, with all their 

 flrength, quite round both fliips, a Chief, or other principal 

 perfon in the canoe, ftanding up with a fpear, or feme otlier 

 weapon, in his hand, and fpeaking, or rather hollowing, 

 all the time. Sometimes the orator of the canoe would 

 have his face covered with a mafic, reprefenting either a 

 human vifage, or that of fome animal ; and, inftead of a 

 weapon, would hold a rattle in his hand, as before de- 

 fcribed. After making this circuit round the fhips, they 

 would come along-fidc, and begin to trade without further 

 ceremony. Very often, indeed, they would firft give us a 



Vol. II, N a fong. 



