THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 21 



under the fliade of their huts; at another, we were feated 1779- 



January * 



within a circle of young women, who exerted all their fkill > r-— ■* 



and agility to amufe us with fongs and dances. 



The fatisfaction we derived from their gentlenefs and 

 hofpitality, was, however, frequently interrupted by that 

 propenfity to Healing, which they have in common with all 

 the other iflanders of thefe feas. This circumflance was 

 the more diflrefling, as it fometimes obliged us to have re- 

 courfe to acts of feverity, which we mould willingly have 

 avoided, if the neceflity of the cafe had not abfolutely called 

 for them. Some of their mod expert fwimmers were one 

 day difcovered under the (hips, drawing out the filling nails 

 of the fheathing, which they performed very dexteroufly by 

 means of a fhort flick, with a flint flone fixed in the end of 

 it. To put a flop to this practice, which endangered the 

 very exiflence of the vefTels, we at firfl fired fmall fhot at the 

 offenders ; but they eafily got out of our reach by diving 

 under the fliip's bottom. It was therefore found neceffary 

 to make an example, by flogging one of them on board the 

 Difcovcry* 



About this time, a large party of gentlemen, from both 

 mips, fct out on an excurfion into the interior parts of the 

 country, with a view of examining its natural productions* 

 An account of this journey will be given in a fubfequenc 

 part of our narrative. It is, therefore, only neceffary at pre* 

 fent to obferve, that it afforded Kaoo a frefti opportunity of 

 mewing his attention and generofity. For as f'oon as he was 

 informed of their departure, he fent a large fupply of pro- 

 vifions after them, together with orders, that the inhabit- 

 ants of the country through which they were to pafs, fliould 

 give them every afliilance in their power, And, to complete 



9 the 



