THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
197 
a matter of doubt with me, if it be always in the power of 
the moft fkilful of the faculty to pronounce, with any cer- v 
tainty, whether a perfon who has been under their care, in 
certain ftages of this malady, is fo effectually cured, as to 
leave no poffibility of his being hill capable of communi¬ 
cating the taint. I think I could mention fome inftances 
which juftify my prefuming to hazard this opinion. It is, 
likewife, well known, that, amongft a number of men, 
there are, generally, to be found fome fo balhful as to en¬ 
deavour to conceal their labouring under any fymptoms of 
this diforder. And there are others, again, fo profligate, as 
not to care to whom they communicate it. Of this laft, we 
had an inftance at Tongataboo, in the gunner of the Difco- 
very, who had been ftationed on fhore to manage the trade 
for that fhip. After he knew that he had contracted this 
difeafe, he continued to have connections with different 
women, who were fuppofed not to have already contracted 
it. His companions expoftulated with him without effeCt, 
till Captain Clerke, hearing of this dangerous irregularity 
of conduCt, ordered him on board. 
While the boats were occupied in examining the coaft, 
We flood on and off with the fhips, waiting for their return. 
About noon, Mr. Williamfon came back, and reported, that 
he had feen a large pond behind a beach near one of the 
villages, which the natives told him contained frefh water; 
and that there was anchoring-ground before it. He alfo 
reported, that he had attempted to land in another place, 
but was prevented by the natives, who, coming down to 
the boats in great numbers, attempted to take away the 
oars, mufquets, and, in fhort, every thing that they could 
lay hold of; and preffed fo thick upon him, that he was 
obliged to fire, by which one man was killed. But this un- 
happy 
i 77 g. 
January. 
