THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 89 



were here before. As foon as they got on board, one of the "779. 



March. 



men began to tell us, that we had left a diforder amongft 

 their women, of which feveral perfons of both fexes had 

 died. He was himfelf afflicted with the venereal difeafe, 

 and gave a very full and minute account of the various 

 fymptoms with which it had been attended. As there was 

 not the flighteft appearance of that diforder amongft them 

 on our firft arrival, I am afraid it is not to be denied, that 

 we were the authors of this irreparable mifchief. 



Our principal object here was to water the mips with the 

 utmofl expedition; and I was fent on more early in the af- 

 ternoon, with the pinnace and launch laden with cafks. 

 The gunner of the Refolution accompanied me to trade for 

 provilions ; and we had a guard of five marines. We found 

 a confiderable number of people collected upon the beach, 

 who received us at firfl with great kindnefsj but as foon as 

 we had got the cafks on fliore, began to be exceedingly 

 troublefome. Former experience having taught me how 

 diflicult it was to reprefs this difpofition, without having 

 recourfe to the authority of their Chiefs, I was very forry to 

 find, that they were all at another part of the ifland. In- 

 deed we foon felt the want of their afliflance ; for it was 

 with great difficulty I was able to form a circle, according to 

 our ufual practice, for the convenience and fecurity of the 

 trading party ; and had no fooner done it, and polled guards 

 to keep ofF the crowd, than I faw a man laying hold of the 

 bayonet of one of the foldiers mufquets, and endeavouring, 

 with all his force, to wrench it out of his hand. On my 

 coming up to them, the native let go his hold and retired ; 

 but returned in a moment, with a fpear in one hand, and 

 dagger in' the other ; and his countrymen had much ado to 

 reftrain him from trying his prowefs with the foldier. This 



Vol. III. N fray 



