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 comes, in order to see how far up it 
was inhabited, etc. ete. 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 ahee 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 
