PAREA S KINDLY DISPOSITION. 181 



timent was very evident when he returned hither 

 from his voyage northward. The islanders met 

 the ship as before, with 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 Ycris, still however continued firm in their 

 attachment to the English. A Yeri, named 

 Parea, gave a striking proof of this kindly dispo 

 sition, which Captain King has thus related : 

 Some Kanackas, having stolen certain articles 3 

 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 



