THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
81 
board; for they had nothing with them for the purpofes of 
barter. But, the next morning, this deficiency was fup- 
plied ; feveral canoes then arriving from more diftant parts, 
which brought with them abundance of bread-fruit, cocoa- 
nuts, and a few hogs. Thefe they exchanged for hatchets, 
nails, and beads ; for red feathers were not fo much fought 
after here as at Otaheite. The ihip being a good deal peft- 
ered with rats, I hauled her within thirty yards of the fhore, 
as near as the depth of water would allow, and made a 
path for them to get to the land, by fattening hawfers to 
the trees. It is faid, that this experiment has fometimes 
fucceeded; but, I believe, we got clear of very few, if any, 
of the numerous tribe that haunted us. 
In the morning of the 2d, Maheine, the Chief of the 
ifland, paid me a vittt. He approached the fhip with great 
caution, and it required fome perfuafion to get him on 
board. Probably, he was under fome apprehenfions of mif- 
chief from us, as friends of the Otaheiteans ; thefe people 
not being able to comprehend, how we can be friends with 
any one, without adopting, at the fame time, his caufe 
againft his enemies. Maheine was accompanied by his 
wife, who, as I was informed, is fitter to Oamo, of Otaheite, 
of whofe death we had an account, while we were at this 
ifland. I made prefents to both of them, of fuch things as 
they feemed to fet the higheft value upon; and after a ftay 
of about half an hour, they went away. Not long after, 
they returned with a large hog, which they meant as a re¬ 
turn for my prefent; but I made them another prefent to 
the full value of it. After this, they paid a vifit to Cap¬ 
tain Clerke. 
This Chief, who, with a few followers, has made himfelf, 
in a manner, independent of Otaheite, is between forty and 
Yol. II. M fifty 
J777' 
October. 
U— v —-J 
Wednef. j. 
Thurfday 2. 
