THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



209 



As we ftill kept on toward the ifland, fix or feven of the >777- 

 canoes, all double ones, foon came near us. There were, ■_'-^ ".- 

 from three to fix men, in each of them. They flopped at 

 the diflance of about a ftone's throw from the fhip j and it 

 was fome time before Omai could prevail upon them to 

 come along-fide; but no intreaties could induce any of 

 them to venture on board. Indeed their dilbrderly and cla- 

 morous behaviour, by no means indicated a difpofition to 

 trufl us, or treat us well. We afterward learnt that they 

 had attempted to take fome oars out of the Difcovery's boat, 

 that lay along-fide, and ftruck a man who endeavoured to 

 prevent them. They alfo cut away, with a fliell, a net 

 with meat, which hung over that fhip's ftern, and abfo- 

 lutely refufed to reftore it ; though we, afterward, pur- 

 chafed it from them. Thofe who were about our fliip, be- 

 haved in the fame daring manner ; for they made a fort of 

 hook, of a long flick, with which they endeavoured, open- 

 ly, to rob us of feveral things ; and, at laft, actually got a 

 frock belonging to one of our people, that was towino- 

 over-board. At the fame time, they immediately fhewed a 

 knowledge of bartering, and fold fome fifli they had 

 (amongft which was an extraordinary flounder, fpotted like 

 porphyry; and a cream-coloured eel, fpotted with black), 

 for fmall nails, of which they were immoderately fond, and 

 called them goore. Rut, indeed, they caught, with the 

 greateft avidity, bits of paper, or any thing elfe that was 

 thrown to them; and if what was thrown fell into tlie 

 fea, they made no fcruple to fwim after it. 



Thefe people feemed to differ as much in pcrfon, as in 

 difpofition, from the natives of' Wateeoo ; though the dil- 

 tance between the two iflands is not very great. Their co- 

 lour was of a deeper caft ; and feveral had a fierce, rugged 



Vol. I. E e afpeft, 



