A VOYAGE TO 
, 9 ^ 
1777. To prevent this, if poflible, I advifed him to make a pro- 
*. _ A per diftribution of fome of his moveables, to two or three 
of the principal Chiefs; who, being thus gratified them- 
felves, might be induced to take him under their patronage, 
and protect him from the injuries of others. He promifed 
to follow my advice ; and I heard, with fatisfaCtion, before 
I failed, that this very prudent ftep had been taken. Not 
trufting, however, entirely to the operations of gratitude, I 
had recourfe to the more forcible motive of intimidation. 
With this view, I took every opportunity of notifying to 
the inhabitants, that it was my intention to return to their 
ifland again, after being abfent the ufual time; and that, if 
I did not find Omai in the fame ftate of fecurity in which I 
was now to leave him, all thofe whom I fliould then dif- 
cover to have been his enemies, might expeCt to feel the 
weight of my refentment. This threatening declaration 
will, probably, have no inconfiderable effeCt. for our fuc- 
ceflive vifits of late years have taught thefe people to be¬ 
lieve, that our fhips are to return at certain periods; and 
while they continue to be impreffed with fuch a notion, 
which I thought it a fair flratagem to confirm, Omai has 
fome profpeCt of being permitted to thrive upon his new 
plantation. 
While we lay in this harbour, we carried afhore the 
bread remaining in the bread-room, to clear it of vermin. 
The number of cock-roaches that infefted the fhip, at this 
time, is incredible. The damage they did us was very 
confiderable; and every method devifed by us to deftroy 
them proved ineffectual. Thefe animals, which, at firft, 
were a nuifance, like all other infeCts, had now become 
a real pelt; and fo deftruCtive, that few things were free 
from their ravages. If food of any kind was expofed, 
only 
