TAE PACIFIC OCEAN, i 



from them, every day, a conftant fupply of hogs and vege- '779- 

 tables, more than fufficient for our fubfiftance ; and fe- 

 veral canoes loaded with provifions were fent to the mips 

 with the fame punctuality. No return was ever demanded, 

 or even hinted at in the mod diftant manner. Their prefents 

 were made with a regularity, more like the difcharge of a 

 religious duty, than the effect of mere liberality ; and when 

 we enquired at whofe charge all this munificence was dif- 

 played, we were told, it was at the expence of a great man 

 called Kaoo, the chief of the priefts, and grandfather to 

 Kaireekeea, who was at that time abfent attending the king 

 of the ifland. 



As every thing relating to the character and behaviour 



of this people muft be interefling to the reader, on account 



of the tragedy that was afterward acted here, it will be 



proper to acquaint him, that we had not always fo much 



reafon to be fatisfied with the conduct of the warrior chiefs 



1 



or Eareesy as with that of the priefts. In all our dealings 

 with the former, we found them fufliciently attentive to 

 their own interelts ; and befides their habit of ftealing, 

 which may admit of fome excufe, from the univerfality of 

 the practice amongtt the iilanders of thefe feas, they made 

 ufe of other artifices equally diflionourable. I fhall only 

 mention one inflance, in which we difcovered, with regret, 

 our friend Koah to be a party principally concerned. As the 

 chiefs, who brought us prefents of hogs, were always fent 

 back handfomely rewarded, we had generally a greater fup- 

 ply than we could make ufe of. On thefe occafions, Koah, 

 who never failed in his attendance on us, uled to beg fuch 

 as we did not want, and they were always given to him. It 

 one day happened, that a pig was prefented us by a man 

 whom Koah himfelf introduced as a chief, who was de- 



firous 



