284 AVOYAGETO 



^77.8- but was necefTary for us. However, I was miftaken ; fol*, 

 the moment that our men began to cut, fome of the inhabit- 

 ants interpofed, and would not permit them to proceed, 

 faying they muft '■^inakook;^ that is, muft firft buy it. I 

 was now in one of the houfes ; but as foon as I heard of 

 this, I went to the field, where I found about a dozen of the 

 natives, each of whom laid claim to fome part of the grafs 

 that grew in this place. I bargained with them for it, and 

 having completed the purchafe, thought that we were now 

 at liberty to cut wherever we pleafed. But here, again» 

 it appeared, that I was under a miftake ; for the liberal 

 manner in which I had paid the firft pretended proprietors, 

 brought frefli demands upon me from others ; fo that there 

 did not feem to be a fingle blade of grafs, that had not a 

 feparate owner ; and fo many of them were to be fatisfied, 

 that I very foon emptied my pockets. When they found, 

 that I really had nothing more to give, their importunities 

 ceafed, and wc were permitted to cut wherever we pleafed, 

 and as much as we chofe to carry away. 



Here I muft obferve, that I have no where, in my feveral 

 voyages, met with any uncivilized nation, or tribe, wlio had 

 fuch ftri(5l notions of their having a right to the exclufivc 

 property of every thing that their country produces, as the 

 inhabitants of this Sound. At firft, tliey wanted our people 

 to pay for the wood and water that they carried on board ; 

 and had I been upon the fpot, when thefe demands were 

 made, I Ihould certainly have complied with them. Our 

 workiuen, in my abfencc, thought dillcrently ; for they 

 took but little notice of fuch claims ; and the natives, 

 when they found that we were determined to pay no- 

 thmg, at laft ceafed to apply. But they made a merit of 

 ueccflity ; and frequently afterward, took occalion to re- 

 mind 



