THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



275 



caufe of the quarrel ; the ftrangers, perhaps, being dcfh'ous '77?- 

 to fliare in the advantages of a trade with us ; and our firft u— ^ 

 friends, the inhabitants of the Sound, being determined to 

 cngrofs us entirely to themfelves. We had proofs of this 

 on feveral other occafions ; nay, it appeared, that even thofe 

 who lived in the Sound were not united in the fame caufe ; 

 for the weaker were frequently obliged to give way to the 

 Wronger party, and plundered of every thing, without at- 

 tempting to make the lead refiftance. 



We refumed our work in the afternoon, and, the next Sunday;. 

 day, rigged the fore-mall ; the head of which being ratha- 

 too fmall for the cap, the carpenter went to work, to fix a 

 piece on one fide, to fill up the vacant fpace. In cutting in- 

 to the maft-head for this purpofe, and examining the ftate of 

 it, both cheeks were found to be fo rotten, that there was no 

 poflibility of repairing them ; an<l it became necefiary to get 

 the mail out, and to fix new ones upon it. It was evident, 

 that one of the cheeks had been dereclive at the firfl, and 

 that the unfound part had been cut out, and a piece put in; 

 which had not only w^eakened the mafl-head, but had, in 

 a great meafure, been the occafion of rotting every other 

 part of both cheeks. Thus, when we were almoll ready to 

 put to fea, we had all our work to do over again ; and, 

 what was flill more provoking, an additional repair was to 

 be undertaken, which would require feme rime to be com- 

 pleted. But, as there was no remedy, we immediately fet 

 about it. It was fortunate for the voyage, that thefe defects 

 were difcovered, when we were in a place, where the ma- 

 terials requifite were to be procured. For, among 11 the drift- 

 wood, in the cove where the lliips lay, were fome fmall fea- 

 foncd trees very fit for our purpofe. One of thefe was pitch- 

 ed upon; ind the carpenters began, without lofs of time, to 

 make out of it two new cheeks. 



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