lao A V O Y A G E T O 



1777- the two obfervatories, and tents for the reception of a ^uard, 



February. _ i <~> 



,'—— V ' and of fuch of our people whofe bufinefs might make it ne- 



cefTary for them to remain on fliore. 



We had not been long at anchor before feverai canoes, 

 filled with natives, came along-fide of the fhips ; but very- 

 few of them would venture on board ; which appeared the 

 more extraordinary, as I was well known to them all. There 

 was one man in particular amongft them, whom I had 

 treated with remarkable kindnefs, during the whole of my 

 day when I was lad here. Yet now, neither profelTions of 

 friendfliip, nor prefents, could prevail upon him to come 

 into the fhip. This fliynefs was to be accounted for only 

 upon this fuppofition, that they were apprehenfive we had 

 revilited their country, in order to revenge the death of Cap- 

 tain Furneaux's people. Seeing Omai on board my fhip 

 now, v.'hom they muft have remembered to have reen on 

 board the Adventure when the melancholy affair happened, 

 and whofe firft converfation with them, as they approached, 

 generally turned on that fubjeifl, they muft be well alTured 

 that 1 was no longer a ftranger to it. I thought it neceffary, 

 therefore, to ufe every endeavour to afTure them of the con- 

 tinuance of my friendfliip, and that I fliould not difturb 

 them on that account. I do not know whether this had any 

 weight with them; but certain it is, that they very foon laid 

 afide all manner of reftraint and diftruft. 



Thurfdayi5. ^^ ^^^^ ^3^^^ ^^ ^^^ "P ^^^ tcnts, onc from each fliip; on 

 the fame fpot Vv^here we had pitched them formerly. The 

 obfervatories were at the fame time erecfted; and iMeffrs. 

 King and Bayly began their operations immediately, to find 

 the rate of the time-keeper, and to make other obfervations. 

 The remainder of the empty water-caflcs were alfo fent on 



fliorc, 



