At seven o’clock the next morning, a breeze of wind springing up at N.E., I took up the anchors, with a view of removing the ship farther out.  The moment that the last anchor was up, the wind veered to the E., which made it necessary to set all the sail we could, in order to clear the shore; so that, before we had tolerable sea-room, we were driven some distance to leeward.  We made a stretch off, with a view to regain the road; but having very little wind, and a strong current against us, I found that this was not to be effected.  I therefore dispatched Messrs King and Williamson ashore, with three boats, for water, and to trade for refreshments.  At the same time, I sent an order to Captain Clerke to put to sea after me, if he should see that I could not recover the road.  Being in hopes of finding one, or perhaps a harbour, at the west end of the island, I was the less anxious about getting back to my former station.  But as I had sent the boats thither, we kept to windward as much as possible, notwithstanding which, at noon, we were three leagues to leeward.  As we drew near the west end of the island, we found the coast to round gradually to the N.E., without forming a creek, or cove, to shelter a vessel from the force of the swell, which rolled in from the N., and broke upon the shore in a prodigious surf, so that all hopes of finding a harbour here vanished.

Several canoes came off in the morning, and followed us as we stood out to sea, bartering their roots and other articles.  Being very averse to believe these people to be cannibals, notwithstanding the suspicious circumstance which had happened the day before, we took occasion now to make some more enquiries about this.  A small wooden instrument, beset with sharks teeth, had been purchased; and from its resemblance to the saw or knife used by the New Zealanders, to dissect the bodies of their enemies, it was suspected to have the same use here.  One of the natives being asked about this, immediately gave the name of the instrument, and told us, that it was used to cut out the fleshy part of the belly, when any person was killed.  This explained and confirmed the circumstance above-mentioned, of the person pointing to his belly.  The man, however, from whom we now had this information, being asked, if his countrymen eat the part thus cut out? denied it strongly, but, upon the question being repeated, shewed some degree of fear, and swam to his canoe.  Just before he reached it, he made signs, as he had done before, expressive of the use of the instrument.  And an old man, who sat foremost in the canoe, being then asked whether they eat the flesh? answered in the affirmative, and laughed, seemingly at the simplicity of such a question.  He affirmed the fact, on being asked again; and also said, it was excellent food, or, as he expressed it, “savoury eating."[3]