THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 193 



were now brought; and, fhortly after, a long green bafkef, '777. 



with a fufficient quantity of baked plantains to have ferved ' >.~— ^ 



a dozen perfons. A piece of the young hog, that had 

 been drefled, was then fet before each of us, of which we 

 were defued to eat. Our appetites, however, had failed, 

 from the fatigue of the day ; and though wq did eat a little 

 to pleafe them, it was without fatisfadion to ourfelves. 



It being now near fun-fet, we told them it was time to eo 

 on board. This they allowed; and fent down to the beach 

 the remainder of the vi(5luals that had been dreffed, to 

 be carried with us to the fhips. But, before we fet out, 

 Omai was treated with a drink he had been ufed to in his 

 own country; which, we obferved, was made here, as at other 

 illands in the South Sea, by chewing the root of a fort of 

 pepper. We found a canoe ready to put us off to our boats; 

 which the natives did, with the fame caution as when we 

 landed. But, even here, their thievifli difpofition did not 

 leave them. For a perfon of fome confequence among them, 

 who came with us, took an opportunity, juft as they were 

 pufhing the canoe into the furf, to fnatch a bag out of her, 

 which I had, with the greateft difficulty, prefcrved all the 

 day; there being in it a fmall pocket-piftol, which I was 

 unwilling to part with. Perceiving him, I called out, exprefT- 

 ing as much difpleafure as I could. On v;hich he thought 

 proper to return, and fwim with the bag to the canoe ; but de- 

 nied he had ftolen it, though detedled in the very a6l. They ■ 

 put us on board our boats, with the cocoa-nuts, plantains, 

 and other provifions, which they had brought; and we 

 rowed to the fliips, very well pleafed that we had at Jaft got 

 out of the hands of our troublelbrae mailers. 



Vol. I. Co We 



