no Brittane myty.”  Huaheine signifies woman and myty good.  Many of them thought it was living and asked if it was my wife.  One old woman ran with presents of cloth and breadfruit and laid them at her feet; at last they found out the cheat; but continued all delighted with it, except the old lady who felt herself mortified and took back her presents for which she was laughed at exceedingly.  Tinah and all the chiefs enjoyed the joke and, after making many enquiries about the British women, they strictly enjoined me when I came again to bring a ship full of them.

Some very fine sugarcane was brought to me; each of the pieces was six inches round.  I had before told Tinah that our sugar was made of it and he was very desirous to discover the means; for they were so fond of our loaf sugar that a present to any chief would have been incomplete without a piece of it.  Another article in great estimation and likewise expected to make part of a present was scissors, which they made use of to keep their beards in order.

By this time Nelson had, with assistance from the ship, completed a large garden near the tents in which were sown seeds of different kinds that we had collected at the Cape of Good Hope.  I likewise distributed fruit-stones and almonds for planting among the chiefs, who I hope will endeavour to make them succeed and, as they are very fond of sweet-smelling flowers with which the women delight to ornament themselves, I gave them some rose-seed.

Thursday 6.

We had very variable weather, much rain, and some westerly winds; so that a considerable swell ran into the bay and a number of spotted white and black porpoises made their appearance.

I had the mortification to see that our garden-ground had been much trod over; and what was worse the chiefs appeared but little concerned at it.  To this kind of carelessness and indifference I attribute the miscarriage of many of the plants left here by Captain Cook.  I had now in a flourishing state two orange plants, some vines, a fig-tree, and two pineapple plants, which I gave to Poeeno whose residence is a place favourable for their growth.

We got on successfully with our plants, having a hundred potted at the tent and in a fair way of doing well.  The cabin also was completed and ready to receive them on board.

I have before remarked that my friend Tinah was rather of a selfish disposition and this afternoon he showed a stronger instance of it than I was witness to at any time before or after.  His brother Oreepyah sent on board to me a present of a large hog and a quantity of breadfruit:  but these kind of presents are much more expensive than purchasing at the market.  Soon after Oreepyah himself came on board.  Tinah was with me at the time and whispered me to tell Oreepyah not to bring any more hogs or fruit and to take those back which he had sent.  This advice as may be supposed did not produce the effect intended.  Oreepyah appears to be a man of great spirit, and is highly respected by his countrymen.  Among other visitors today was one of the men who had been to Lima in 1776.