THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
83 
which precaution, the natives had contrived to Ileal one of 1777. 
them this evening. The lofs of this goat would have been t _ Od0P _f r * , 
of little confequence, if it had not interfered with my 
views of Hocking other iflands with thefe animals; but 
this being the cafe, it became necelTary to recover it, if pof- 
lible. The next morning, we got intelligence, that it had Tuefday 7 „ 
been carried to Maheine, the Chief, who was, at this time, 
at Parowroah harbour. Two old men offered to conduct 
any of my people, whom I might think proper to fend to 
him, to bring back the goat. Accordingly, I difpatched 
them in a boat, charged with a threatening melfage to 
Maheine, if the goat was not immediately given up to me, 
and alfo the thief. 
It was only the day before, that this Chief had requelled 
me to give him two goats. But, as I could not fpare them, 
unlefs at the expence of other iflands, that might never 
have another opportunity to get any, and had, befides, 
heard that there were already two upon this ifland, I did 
not gratify him. However, to Ihew my inclination to affill 
his views in this refpe£l, I defired Tidooa, an Otaheite Chief, 
who was prefent, to beg Otoo, in my name, to fend two of 
thefe animals to Maheine; and, by way of infuring a com¬ 
pliance with this requell, I fent to Otoo, by this Chief, a 
large piece of red feathers, equal to the value of the two 
goats that I required. I expelled that this arrangement 
would have been fatisfa6lory to Maheine, and all the other 
Chiefs of the ifland ; hut the event fhewed that I was mif- 
taken. 
Not thinking, that any one would dare to Heal a fecond, 
at the very time I was taking meafures to recover the firft, 
the goats were put afhore again this morning; and in the 
evening a boat was fent to bring them on board. As our 
M 1 people 
