THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
273 
1778. 
March. 
April. 
to amufe the boat-keeper, at one end of a boat, while 
another was pulling out the iron-work at the other. If we 
miffed a thing immediately after it had been ftolen, we 
found little difficulty in detecting the thief, as they were 
ready enough to impeach one another. But the guilty 
perfon generally relinquifhed his prize with reluctance; 
and fometimes we found it neceffary to have recourfe to 
force. 
The ffiips being fecurely moored, we began our other 
neceffary buffnefs the next day. The ohfervatories were Wednef - *• 
carried afhore, and placed upon an elevated rock on one 
fide of the cove, clofe to the Refolution. A party of men, 
with an officer, was fent to cut wood, and to clear a place 
for the conveniency of watering. Others were employed 
to brew fpruce-beer, as pine trees abounded here. The 
forge was alfo fet up, to make the iron-work wanting for 
the repairs of the fore-maft. For, befides one of the bibs 
being defective, the larboard treftle-tree, and one of the 
crofs-trees were fprung. 
A confiderable number of the natives vifited us daily; 
and, every now and then, we faw new faces. On their firfl: 
coming, they generally went through a fingular mode of 
introducing themfelves. They would paddle, with all their 
ftrength, quite round both fhips, a Chief, or other principal 
perfon in the canoe, Handing up with a fpear, or fome other 
weapon, in his hand, and fpeaking, or rather hollowing, 
all the time. Sometimes the orator of the canoe would 
have his face covered with a mafic, reprefen ting either a 
human.vifage, or that of fome animal; and, inifead of a 
weapon, would hold a rattle in his hand, as before de- 
fcribed. After making this circuit round the fhips, they 
would come along-fide, and begin to trade without further 
Yol. II. N n ceremony. 
