102 
A VOYAGE T O 
1777. tain-leaf made as good a dibi or plate as pewter; and that a 
4_ cocoa-nut biell w T as as convenient a goblet as a black-jack. 
And, therefore, he very wifely difpofed of as many of thefe 
articles of Englifh furniture for the kitchen and pantry, as 
he could find purchafers for, amongft the people of the 
fhips; receiving from them, in return, hatchets, and other 
iron tools, which had a more intrinfic value in this part 
of the world, and added more to his diflinguifhing fupe- 
riority over thofe with whom he was to pafs the remainder 
of his days. 
Tuefday 28. In the long lift of the prefents beftowed upon him in 
England, fire-works had not been forgot. Some of thefe 
we exhibited, in the evening of the 28th, before a great 
concourfe of people, who beheld them with a mixture of 
pleafure and fear. What remained, after the evening’s 
entertainment, were put in order, and left with Omai, 
agreeably to their original deftination. Perhaps we need 
not lament it as a ferious misfortune, that the far greater 
fliare of this part of his cargo, had been already expended 
in exhibitions at other iflands, or rendered ufelefs by being 
kept fo long. 
Thurfday 30. Between midnight and four in the morning of the 30th, 
the Bolabola man, whom I had in confinement, found means 
to make his efcape out of the fhip. He carried with him 
the fliackle of the bilboo-bolt that was about his leg, which 
was taken from him, as foon as he got on fhore, by one of 
the Chiefs, and given to Omai; who came on board, very 
early in the morning, to acquaint me that his mortal enemy 
was again let loofe upon him. Upon inquiry, it appeared, 
that not only the fentry placed over the prifoner, but the 
whole watch, upon the quarter deck where he was confined, 
had laid themfelves down to beep. He feized the opportu¬ 
nity 
