SECOND VOYAGE 145 



plantation hard by, and shewed them a pool of fresh water, 

 though they had not made the least inquiry after any. 



Mr- Forster and his party spent the day in the country 

 hotanising, and several of the officers were out shooting. 

 All of them were very civilly treated by the natives. A 

 boat from each ship was employed trading on shore, and 

 bringing off their cargoes as soon as they were laden, which 

 was generally in a short time. By this method they got 

 cheaper, and with less trouble, a good quantity of fruit, 

 as well as other refreshments, from people who had no 

 canoes to carry them off to the ships. 



Though the natives began to show a propensity to 

 pilfering, the different trading parties were so successful as 

 to procure for both ships a tolerably good supply of refresh- 

 ments. In consequence of which, Captain Cook, the next 

 morning, gave every one leave to purchase what curiosities 

 they pleased. After this, it was astonishing to see with 

 what eagerness every one caught at every thing he saw. It 

 even went so far as to become the ridicule of the natives, 

 who offered pieces of sticks and stones to exchange. 



One of the natives having got into the master's cabin, took 

 out some books and other things. He was discovered just 

 as he was getting into his canoe, and pursued by one of the 

 boats, which obliged him to quit the canoe and take to the 

 water. The people in the boat made several attempts to 

 lay hold on him ; but he, as often, dived under the boat, 

 and at last unshipping the rudder, he got clear off. Some 

 other very daring thefts were committed at the landing- 

 place. One fellow took a seaman's jacket out of the boat, 

 and carried it off, in spite of all the people in her. The 

 rest of the natives, who were very numerous, took very 

 little notice of the whole transaction ; nor were they the 

 least alarmed when the man was fired at. 



This day Captain Cook was told by the officers who 

 were on shore, that a far greater man than any they had yet 

 seen was come to pay them a visit. Mr. Pickersgill informed 

 them that he had seen him in the country, and found that 

 he was a man of some consequence, by the extraordinary 

 respect paid to him by the people. Some, when they 

 approached him, fell on their faces, and put their head 

 between their feet ; and no one durst pass him without 

 permission. The Captain found him seated near the land- 

 ing-place with so much sullen and stupid gravity that 

 notwithstanding what had been told him, he really took him 

 for an idiot, whom the people, from some superstitious 

 notions, were ready to worship. He saluted and spoke to 

 him ; but he neither answered, nor did he alter a single 

 feature in his countenance. This confirmed him in his 



