JULY 1769 SUPPLY OF BREAD-FRUIT 105 



us, and tell us that they were rejoiced at our return ; nor 

 were they empty-handed, most of them brought something 

 or other. The canoes were still in the river, and Captain 

 Cook, finding that there was no likelihood now of any of 

 the stolen goods being restored, resolved to let them go as 

 soon as he could. His friend Potattow solicited for one, 

 which was immediately granted, as it was imagined that the 

 favour was asked for some of his friends ; but no sooner did 

 he begin to move the boat than the real owners and a 

 number of Indians opposed him, telling him and his people 

 very clamorously that it did not belong to them. He 

 answered that he had bought it of the captain, and given a 

 pig for it ; the people were by this declaration satisfied, and 

 had we not luckily overheard it, he would have taken away 

 this boat, and probably soon after have solicited for more. 

 On being detected he became so sulky and ashamed, that for 

 the rest of the day neither he nor his wife would open their 

 mouths, or look straight at any of us. 



3rd. This morning very early Mr. Monkhouse and my- 

 self set out, resolving to follow the course of the valley 

 down which our river conies, in order to see how far up it 

 was inhabited, etc. etc. When we had got about two miles 

 up it, we met several of our neighbours coming down with 

 loads of bread-fruit upon their backs : we had often wondered 

 from whence our small supply of bread-fruit came, as there 

 was none to be seen upon the flats. They soon explained 

 the mystery, showing us bread-fruit trees planted on the 

 sides of the hills, and telling us at the same time that when 

 the fruit in the flats failed, these, which had been by them 

 planted upon the hills to preserve the succession, were ready 

 for use. The quantity was much less than in the lowlands, 

 and not by any means sufficient to supply the whole interval 

 of scarcity. When this was exhausted they were obliged 

 to live on aJiee nuts, plantains, and vae (or wild plantain), 

 which grows very high up in the mountains. How the 

 Dolphin's men, who were here much about this time, came to 

 find so great plenty of bread-fruit upon the trees, is a mystery 

 to me, unless perhaps the season of this fruit alters. As for their 



