often undeceived too late.  It is even a matter of doubt with me, if it be always in the power of the most skilful of the faculty to pronounce, with any certainty, whether a person who has been under their care, in certain stages of this malady, is so effectually cured, as to leave no possibility of his being still capable of communicating the taint.  I think I could mention some instances which justify my presuming to hazard this opinion.  It is likewise well known, that amongst a number of men, there are, generally, to be found some so bashful as to endeavour to conceal their labouring under any symptoms of this disorder.  And there are others again, so profligate, as not to care to whom they communicate it.  Of this last we had an instance at Tongataboo, in the gunner of the Discovery, who had been stationed on shore to manage the trade for that ship.  After he knew that he had contracted this disease, he continued to have connections with different women, who were supposed not to have already contracted it.  His companions expostulated with him without effect, till Captain Clerke, hearing of this dangerous irregularity of conduct, ordered him on board.[1]

[Footnote 1:  One can scarcely help smiling at the mode Dr Kippis uses to express his abhorrence of this man’s conduct.  It may be seen in his account of this voyage, given in the Biog.  Brit.  “If I knew the rascal’s name,” says he, “I would hang it up, as far as lies in my power, to everlasting infamy!” Undoubtedly it richly deserved such treatment, but there was no necessity for the doctor exhibiting such keenness for the office of executioner.—­E.]

While the boats were occupied in examining the coast, we stood on and off with the ships, waiting for their return.  About noon, Mr Williamson came back, and reported that he had seen a large pond behind a beach near one of the villages, which the natives told him contained fresh water, and that there was anchoring-ground before it.  He also reported that he had attempted to land in another place, but was prevented by the natives, who, coming down to the boats in great numbers, attempted to take away the oars, musquets, and, in short, every thing that they could lay hold of, and pressed so thick upon him, that he was obliged to fire, by which one man was killed.  But this unhappy circumstance I did not know till after we had left the island, so that all my measures were directed as if nothing of the kind had happened.  Mr Williamson told me, that after the man fell, his countrymen took him up, carried him off, and then retired from the boat; but still they made signals for our people to land, which he declined.  It did not appear to Mr Williamson, that the natives had any design to kill, or even to hurt, any of his party; but they seemed excited by mere curiosity, to get from them what they had, being, at the same time, ready to give in return, any thing of their own.