parea's kindly disposition. 181 



timent was very evident when he returned hither 

 from his voyage northward. The islanders met 

 the ship as before, w^ith hogs and fruits; but they 

 set a price upon them, instead of presenting 

 them, as formerly, in the character of offerings, 

 and accepting the returns made them as gratui- 

 tous gifts. Finding that they obtained what 

 appeared to them an exorbitant price for their 

 provisions, they supposed the strangers to come 

 from a land of scarcity for the mere purpose of 

 satisfying their appetites ; and the common 

 people wholly ceasing to regard them with re- 

 verence, became bolder in their depredations. 

 The King, the Priests, and many of the princi- 

 pal Yeris, still however continued firm in their 

 attachment to the English. A Yeri, named 

 Parea, gave a striking proof of this kindly dispo- 

 sition, w^hich Captain King has thus related : — 

 Some Kanackas, having stolen certain articles, 

 were pursued with muskets ; and though every 

 thing was recovered, an English officer thought 

 himself justified in taking possession of a canoe 

 lying on the shore belonging to Parea, who, 

 being perfectly innocent of the theft, reclaimed 

 his property. The officer refused to surrender 



