THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 223 



As Major Behm had exprefTed his intentions of vifiting '779. 

 the fhips before he landed, as foon as we arrived off the ^ — *—. j 

 town, I defired to receive his commands ; when remarking, 

 that from the account we had given of the very bad ftate of 

 Captain Clerke's health, it might be imprudent to diflurb 

 tiim at fo late an hour (it being now part nine o'clock), he 

 thought it, he faid, mod advifeable to remain that night on 

 more. Accordingly, after attending him to the ferjeant's 

 houfe, I took my leave, for the prefent, and went on board 

 to acquaint Captain Clerke with my proceedings at Bolche- 

 retfk. It was with the utmoft concern I found, that in the 

 fortnight we had been abfent, this excellent officer was 

 much altered for the worfe, inflead of reaping that advan- 

 tage we flattered ourfelves he might, from the rcpofe of the 

 harbour, and the milk and vegetable diet with which he was 

 fupplied. 



As foon as I had difpatched this bufinefs, I returned to the Satwda 

 Major, and the next morning conducted him to the mips ; 

 where, on his arrival, he was faluted with thirteen guns, 

 and received with every other mark of diflinction, that it 

 wa> in our power to pay him. He was attended by the 

 Commander of one of the Ruffian galliots, the matter of a 

 floop that lay in the harbour, two merchants from Bolche- 

 retfk, and the priefl: of the neighbouring village of Para- 

 tounca, for whom he appeared to entertain the highefl 

 refpect, and whom I mail hereafter have occafion to men- 

 tion, on account of his great kindnefs to Captain Clerke. 



After vifiting the Captain, and taking a view of both the 

 fliips, he returned to dinner on board the Refolution ; and, 

 in the afternoon, the various curiofities we had collected in 

 the courfe of our voyage, were (hewn him, and a complete 



afiortmerit 



