i63 AVOYAGETOTHE 



CHAP. 



VIII. 

 ^. — ^ ' 



Though this piece of information feemed rather im- 



— ^ — ' probable, yet I thought it prudent to be on our guard to 



December, prcvcnt a furprife, a^nd at the fame time I ordered a con- 



ay 12. ^^^^ watch to be kejpt on the cables, to prevent their being 



cut by the natives. 



I HAD obferved the natives building this houfe a day or 

 two before the prieft pointed it out to me, and had (t^n 

 people conftantly going up towards it loaded, probably 

 with offerings to their different deities. 



Towards noon I could fee, with the help of a glafs, 

 that the houfe was nearly finifhed, and the natives were 

 covering it with red cloth. 



As I had conftantly treated the king and his attendants 

 with great kindnefs and attention, I could fcarcely give 

 any credit to the old prieft ; although the hopes of pof- 

 fefling all the iron they might fuppofe we had on board 

 might poffibly tempt them to attack us : at any rate, I 

 determined to admit Taheeterre on board as ufual when- 

 ever he came, and to regulate my condudl by his behavi- 

 our. In the evening the prieft left us and went on fhore, 

 promiUng to return the next day. 



rhurfdayi4. Q^ ^j^g 14th in thc morning a vaft number of canoes 

 came to the fhips, chiefly loaded with fire- wood; what 

 hogs and vegetables we now procured being fcarcely more 

 than fulEcient for a daily fupply. Towards noon the king 

 came off in a large dovible canoe, attended by a number of 

 his principal chiefs, all of whom I admitted on board, and 



I o , treated 



