The ship continued to be supplied by the natives as usual.  Coconuts were in such plenty that I believe not a pint of water was drunk on board the ship in the twenty-four hours.  Breadfruit began to be scarce though we purchased without difficulty a sufficient quantity for our consumption:  there was however another harvest approaching which they expected would be fit for use in five or six weeks.  The better kind of plantains also were become scarce; but a kind which they call vayhee were in great plenty.  This fruit does not hang on the trees like the other kinds but grows upon an upright stalk of considerable strength and substance.  Though this plantain is inferior in quality to most of the others it affords great subsistence to the natives.  We received almost every day presents of fish, chiefly dolphin and albacore, and a few small rock fish.  Their fishing is mostly in the night when they make strong lights on the reefs which attract the fish to them.  Sometimes in fine weather the canoes are out in such numbers that the whole sea appears illuminated.  In the canoes they fish with hook and line and on the reefs they struck the fish with a spear.  Some likewise carry out small nets which are managed by two men.  In the daytime their fishing canoes go without the reefs, sometimes to a considerable distance, where they fish with rods and lines and catch bonetas and other fish.  Whenever there is a show of fish a fleet of canoes immediately proceeds to sea.  Their hooks being bright are used without bait in the manner of our artificial flies.  Their rods are made of bamboo; but when there are any very large fish they make use of an outrigger over the fore part of the canoe, about twenty-five feet in length, which has two prongs at the extremity, to each of which is fastened a hook and line; and when a fish takes the hook it is raised by ropes managed by two men in the stern of the canoe.

January 1789.  Thursday 1.

Contrary to my expectation Tinah this afternoon brought on board the cleaver that had been stolen.  The thief had taken it to Attahooroo, and Tinah told me, which I could easily believe, that it was given up with reluctance.

Friday 2.

The next morning I offered Tinah a present of axes and other things but, as he suspected this was meant by way of return for getting the cleaver restored, he would not be prevailed with to accept a single article.

I had constantly the company of Tinah, his wife, and some of his relations; but the royal children, though so near us, never came in sight of the ship.  The river separated them from the place occupied by our people on shore and, for fear of giving alarm or offence, I gave strict orders that no one should attempt to go near their place of residence.

Monday 5.