THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
21 
under the fhade of their huts ; at another, we were feated 1779. 
within a circle of young women, who exerted all their t hill , Jan ^ ary> 
and agility to amufe us with fongs and dances. 
The fatisfacflion we derived from their gentlenefs and 
hofpitality, was, however, frequently interrupted by that 
propenfity to healing, which they have in common with all 
the other itlanders of thefe feas. This circumftance was 
the more diftrefling, as it fometimes obliged us to have re- 
courfe to a6ts of feverity, which we thould willingly have 
avoided, if the neceflity of the cafe had not abl'olutely called 
for them. Some of their moft expert fwimmers were one 
day difcovered under the fhips, drawing out the filling nails 
of the llieathing, which they performed very dexteroufiy by 
means of a fhort hick, with a flint ftone fixed in the end of 
it. To put a flop to this practice, which endangered the 
very exiftence of the veffels, we at firft fired fmall fliot at 
the offenders ; but they eafily got out of our reach by div¬ 
ing under the fhip’s bottom. It was therefore found neceff 
fary to make an example, by flogging one of them on 
board the Difcovery. 
About this time, a large party of gentlemen, from both 
fhips, fet out on an excurfion into the interior parts of the 
country, with a view of examining its natural productions. 
An account of this journey will be given in a fubfequent 
part of our narrative. It is, therefore, only neceffary at pre- 
fent to obferve, that it afforded Kaoo a frefh opportunity of 
fhewing his attention and generofity. For as foon as he was 
informed of their departure, he fent a large fupply of pro- 
vifions after them, together with orders, that the inhabi¬ 
tants of the country through which they were to pafs, fhould 
give them every afliftance in their power. And, to complete 
the delicacy and difintereftednefs of his conduct, even the 
people 
