and sometimes only two or three feathers, between the fore finger and thumb, and say a prayer, not one word of which I could ever understand.  Whoever comes to this island, will do well to provide himself with red feathers, the finest and smallest that are to be got.  He must also have a good stock of axes, and hatchets, spike-nails, files, knives, looking-glasses, beads, &c.  Sheets and shirts are much sought after, especially by the ladies; as many of our gentlemen found by experience.

The two goats which Captain Furneaux gave to Otoo when we were last here, seemed to promise fair for answering the end for which they were put on shore.  The ewe soon after had two female kids, which were now so far grown as to be nearly ready to propagate; and the old ewe was again with kid.  The people seemed to be very fond of them, and they to like their situation as well; for they were in excellent condition.  From this circumstance we may hope that, in a few years, they will have some to spare to their neighbours; and by that means they may in time spread over all the isles in this ocean.  The sheep which we left died soon after, excepting one, which we understood was yet alive.  We have also furnished them with a stock of cats; no less than twenty having been given away at this isle, besides those which were left at Ulietea and Huaheine.

[1] “The good old admiral was so ill that he could not stand on his legs; he was very desirous, however, to come upon deck; we therefore slung a chair on ropes, and hoisted him up in it, to his great delight, and to the astonishment of all his countrymen.  Notwithstanding his illness, he told us he was determined to command the expedition against Eimea, saying it was of little consequence if they killed an old man, who could no longer be useful.  He was very cheerful under his infirmities, and his way of thinking was nobly disinterested, and seemed to be animated by true heroism.  He took leave of us with a degree of cordiality and emotion, which touched the heart, and might have reconciled a misanthrope to the world.”—­G.F.—­ Who does not see in this noble veteran the radical principles which characterize a British tar?  There needs indeed, but a little of the Roman or Grecian painting, to render him a fit stage-companion for almost any of the ancient heroes; and who can tell, but that in some distant aera, when the Otaheitan language shall be read and classical, the drivelling pedants of the south will blazon his fame, as we now do that of his elder fraternity?  G.F. had his eye directed to such a kind of comparison betwixt Greeks and Otaheitans, in a passage which the reader will find in the next note, and which is a fair specimen of that gentleman’s lively and entertaining style.—­E.

[2] “The view of the Otaheitan fleet frequently brought to our minds an idea of the naval force which that nation employed in the first ages of its existence, and induced us to