chiefs; and I must do him the justice to say he kept his attendant constantly employed:  there was indeed little reason to complain of want of appetite in any of my guests.  As the women are not allowed to eat in presence of the men Iddeah dined with some of her companions about an hour afterwards in private, except that her husband Tinah favoured them with his company and seemed to have entirely forgotten that he had already dined.

Provisions were brought off to the ship in the greatest plenty and, to prevent as much as possible anything which might occasion disputes, I desired Mr. Peckover, the gunner, to undertake the management of our traffic with the natives.  Some of the hogs brought today weighed 200 pounds and we purchased several for salting.  Goats were likewise brought off for sale, and I bought a she-goat and kid for less than would have purchased a small hog.  Our friends here expressed much disappointment that there was no portrait-painter on board; Tinah in particular, who wished to have had pictures of his father and family.

An intimacy between the natives and our people was already so general that there was scarce a man in the ship who had not his tyo or friend.  Tinah continued with me the whole afternoon, in the course of which he ate four times of roast pork besides his dinner.  When he left the ship he requested I would keep for him all the presents I had given to him as he had not at Matavai a place sufficiently safe to secure them from being stolen; I therefore showed him a locker in my cabin for his use and gave him a key to it.  This is perhaps not so much a proof of his want of power as of the estimation in which they hold European commodities and which makes more than the common means of security requisite to prevent theft.

I had sent Nelson and his assistant to look for plants, and it was no small pleasure to me to find by their report that according to appearances the object of my mission would probably be accomplished with ease.  I had given directions to everyone on board not to make known to the islanders the purpose of our coming lest it might enhance the value of the breadfruit plants, or occasion other difficulties.  Perhaps so much caution was not necessary but at all events I wished to reserve to myself the time and manner of communication.  Nelson met with two fine shaddock-trees which he had planted in 1777:  they were full of fruit but not ripe.

Wednesday 29.

In the morning I returned Tinah’s visit for I found he expected it.  He was in a small shed about a quarter of a mile to the eastward of Matavai point with his wife and three children, not their own but who they said were relations.  In my walk I had picked up a numerous attendance for everyone I met followed me; so that I had collected such a crowd that the heat was scarce bearable, everyone endeavouring to get a look to satisfy their curiosity:  they however carefully avoided pressing against me, and welcomed me with cheerful countenances and great good nature.