seeing ten war canoes go through their paddling exercise; which was done with great expedition, although the vessels seemed to be but thinly manned with rowers. The warriors on the fighting stages encouraged the rowers to exert themselves; while some youths sitting aloft in the curved stern, with white wands in their hands, were keeping a look out, and giving directions. Tarevatoo, who was present, desired that Mr. Hodges might be sent for, having observed that he made drawings of every thing curious.
On the first two days of May, large supplies of provisions were received; and these were the more welcome, as it was found, on examining the state of the biscuit, that much of it was rotten and useless, and the rest required to be again aired and cleaned.
The friendly intercourse between the British and the Tahitians, which had continued and increased since the punishment of the thief, was interrupted by another theft, committed in the night between the 7th and 8th of May; when one of the sentinels on shore, having slept or quitted his post, his musket was carried off by one of the natives. This incident, as usual, created a general alarm, and put a stop to all trade in provisions. The Captain, to procure redress, sought an interview with Otoo; but the latter had disappeared.. He then detained five canoes, that the owners might feel interested in the recovery of the musket; but through the representations of Tee and Oedidee, whose good faith, in reference to this matter, was suspected, the canoes were given up. Yet the musket, and some other stolen articles, were brought to the tents in the dusk of the evening, by three men,
