Early in the morning of the 27th, Oree, his wife, son, daughter, and several more of his friends, made us a visit, and brought with them a good quantity of all manner of refreshments; little having as yet been got from any body else.  They staid dinner; after which a party of us accompanied them on shore, where we were entertained with a play, called Mididij Harramy, which signifies the Child is coming.  It concluded with the representation of a woman in labour, acted by a set of great brawny fellows, one of whom at last brought forth a strapping boy, about six feet high, who ran about the stage, dragging after him a large wisp of straw which hung by a string from his middle.  I had an opportunity of seeing this acted another time, when I observed, that the moment they had got hold of the fellow who represented the child, they flattened or pressed his nose.  From this I judged, that they do so by their children when born, which may be the reason why all in general have flat noses.  This part of the play, from its newness, and the ludicrous manner in which it was performed, gave us, the first time we saw it, some entertainment, and caused a loud laugh, which might be the reason why they acted it so often afterwards.  But this, like all their other pieces, could entertain us no more than once; especially as we could gather little from them, for want of knowing more of their language.

The 28th was spent by me in much the same manner as the preceding day, viz. in entertaining my friends, and being entertained by them.  Mr Forster and his party in the country botanizing.

Next morning, we found several articles had been stolen, out of our boats lying at the buoy, about sixty or seventy yards from the ship.  As soon as I was informed of it, I went to the chief to acquaint him therewith.  I found that he not only knew they were stolen, but by whom, and where they were; and he went immediately with me in my boat in pursuit of them.  After proceeding a good way along shore, towards the south end of the island, the chief ordered us to land near some houses, where we did not wait long before all the articles were brought to us, except the pinnace’s iron tiller, which I was told was still farther off.  But when I wanted to go after it, I found the chief unwilling to proceed; and he actually gave me the slip; and retired into the country.  Without him I knew I could do nothing.  The people began to be alarmed when they saw I was for going farther; by which I concluded that the tiller was out of their reach also.  I therefore sent one of them to the chief to desire him to return.  He returned accordingly; when we sat down, and had some victuals set before us, thinking perhaps that, as I had not breakfasted, I must be hungry, and not in a good humour.  Thus I was amused, till two hogs were produced, which they entreated me to accept.  This I did, and then their fears vanished; and I thought myself not ill off, in having gotten two good hogs