Having thus disposed of these passengers, I found my self lightened of a very heavy burthen.  The trouble and vexation that attended the bringing this living cargo thus far, is hardly to be conceived.  But the satisfaction that I felt, in having been so fortunate as to fulfil his majesty’s humane design, in sending such valuable animals, to supply the wants of two worthy nations, sufficiently recompensed me for the many anxious hours I had passed, before this subordinate object of my voyage could be carried into execution.

As I intended to make some stay here, we set up the two observatories on Matavai Point.  Adjoining to them, two tents were pitched for the reception of a guard, and of such people as it might be necessary to leave on shore, in different departments.  At this station, I entrusted the command to Mr King, who, at the same time, attended the observations, for ascertaining the going of the time-keeper, and other purposes.  During our stay, various necessary operations employed the crews of both ships.  The Discovery’s main-mast was carried ashore, and made as good as ever.  Our sails and water-casks were repaired, the ships were caulked, and the rigging all overhauled.  We also inspected all the bread that we had on board in casks; and had the satisfaction to find that but little of it was damaged.

On the 26th, I had a piece of ground cleared for a garden, and planted it with several articles, very few of which, I believe, the natives, will ever look after.  Some melons, potatoes, and two pine-apple plants, were in a fair way of succeeding before we left the place.  I had brought from the Friendly Islands several shaddock trees.  These I also planted here; and they can hardly fail of success, unless their growth should be checked by the same premature curiosity, which destroyed a vine planted by the Spaniards at Oheitepeha.  A number of the natives got together to taste the first fruit it bore; but, as the grapes were still sour, they considered it as little better than poison, and it was unanimously determined to tread it under foot.  In that state, Omai found it by chance, and was overjoyed at the discovery.  For he had a full confidence, that, if he had but grapes, he could easily make wine.  Accordingly, he had several slips cut off from the tree, to carry away with him; and we pruned and put in order the remains of it.  Probably, grown wise by Omai’s instructions, they may now suffer the fruit to grow to perfection, and not pass so hasty a sentence upon it again.

We had not been eight and forty hours at anchor in Matavai Bay, before we were visited by all our old friends, whose names are recorded in the account of my last voyage.  Not one of them came empty-handed; so that we had more provisions than we knew what to do with.  What was still more, we were under no apprehensions of exhausting the island, which presented to our eyes every mark of the most exuberant plenty, in every article of refreshment.