a good fire, notwithstanding which we were much troubled with flies and musquitoes. FRIDAY, MAY 1. At dawn of day, a party was fent out by a different route, to see what they could procure. They however only met with two men, a woman, and a child, who accompanied them to the cove with two cocoa-nut fhells of water. I endeavoured to make friends of thefe people, and fent them away for bread-fruit, plantains, and water. Soon after other natives came to us; and by noon there were thirty about us, from whom we obtained a finall fupply; but I could only afford one ounce of pork, and a quarter of a breadfruit, to each man for dinner, with half a pint of water; for I was fixed in my resolution not to use, as yet, any of the bread or water in the boat. Some of the natives were coming and going the whole afternoon, and we got enough of bread-fruit, plantains, and cocoa nuts, for another day; but of water they only brought us about five pints. A canoe alfo came to us with four men, and brought a few cocoa-nuts and breadfruit, which I bought with buttons and a few beads as I had done the rest. Towards evening, I had the fatisfaction to find our stock of provifions fomewhat increased. At fun-fet all VOL. II. 3 U the the natives left us in quiet poffeffion of the cave. I thought this a good fign, and made no doubt that they would come again next day with a better supply of food and water, and we should obtain fufficient to stock us for our intended voyage. At night, I ferved a quarter of a bread-fruit and a cocoa-nut to each perfon for fupper; and, a good fire being made, all but the watch went to fleep. At day-break, next morning, I was pleased to find every one's fpirits a little revived, and that they no longer regarded me with those anxious looks, which had conftantly been directed towards me fince we loft fight of the ship every countenance appeared to have a degree of cheerfulness, and they all feemed determined to do their utmost. As there was no direct certainty of our being fupplied with water by the natives, I fent a party among the gullies in the mountains, with empty fhells, to fee what could be found. In their abfence the natives came about us, as I expected, and in greater numbers; two canoes alfo came in from round the north fide of the island. In one of them was an elderly chief. Soon after, some of our foraging party returned, and with them came Erow, a chief. To each of these men I made a prefent of an old old fhirt and a knife. They were very inquifitive to know in what manner I had loft my fhip. During this converfation, a young man, named NAGETE, appeared, whom I remembered to have feen in 1777: he expreffed much pleasure at our meeting. The goodwill and affability of this man gave me much fatiffaction. This, however, was but of fhort duration, for the natives began to increase in number, and I obferved fome fymptoms of a defign against us. Soon after they attempted to haul the boat on fhore, on which I brandished my cutlass in a threatening manner, and spoke to EFOW to order them to defift; which they did, and every thing became quiet again. As we had no means of improving our fituation, I told our people I would wait till fun-fet, by which time, perhaps, fomething might happen in our favour: for if we attempted to go at prefent, we must fight our way through, which we could do more advantageoufly at night; and that in the mean time we should endeavour to get off to the boat what we had bought. The beach was lined with the natives, and we heard nothing but the knocking of ftones together, which 3 U 2 they they had in each hand. I knew very well this was the sign of an attack. They frequently importuned me to fit down, but I as conftantly refufed: for it occurred both to NELSON and myself, that they intended to feize hold of me, if I gave them fuch an opportunity. At noon I ferved a cocoa-nut and a bread-fruit to each perfon for dinner, and gave some to the chiefs, with whom I continued to appear intimate and friendly. Keeping, therefore, constantly on our guard, we were suffered to eat our uncomfortable meal in some quietness. After dinner we began by little and little to get our things into the boat, which was a troublesome business, on account of the furf. I carefully watched the motions of the natives, who continued to increase in number; and found that, instead of their intention being to leave us, fires were made, and places fixed on for their stay during the night. Confultations were also held among them, and every thing affured me we should be attacked. I fent orders to the master, that when he saw us coming down, he should keep the boat close to the fhore, that we might the more readily embark, and in sending this paper down to the boat, it was nearly snatched away, but for the timely affistance of the gunner. When When the fun began to fet, I gave the word, on which every person who was on fhore with me boldly took up his proportion of things, and carried them to the boat. The chiefs eagerly asked of me, if I did not intend fleeping in the cave as on the preceding night. I faid, "No; but in the morning we will again trade with 66 you, and I fhall remain till the weather is moderate, "when we go, as we have agreed, to Tongataboo." The elder chief then started up, and faid, "You will "not fleep on fhore, then mattie," which means, we will kill you instantly, and he left us. The onset was now prepared. Every one made a noise with the ftones he held in his hand, and Erow ran from us. All but two or three things were in the boat, when I took NAGETE by the hand, and our people walked down the beach, every one in a filent kind of horror. While I was feeing them embark, NAGETE requefted me to have a conference with Erow; but I found Erow was encouraging them to make the instant attack, and it was my determination, if they had then began, to have killed NAGETE, for his treacherous behaviour. I ordered the carpenter not to quit me till the other people were in the boat. NAGETE, finding I would |