whom the Captain had apprized of his resolution. To ensure the restoration of the other, two large double canoes were seized; and one fellow making resistance, was wounded with small shot, and sent off limping. Not long after, the other gun was brought, and laid at the Captain's feet; upon which he ordered the canoes to be forthwith restored. The cooper's adze, after some delay, was also brought back. It was reported, that the wounded man had died; but fortunately the report proved to be incorrect. The Surgeon bled him, and dressed his wounds; and pronounced him in a fair way of recovery. The Captain made him a present also, to solace him in his affliction; but it was taken by his master, or the owner of the canoe.
While the usual trade was going on at the ship, it was observed, that a person who seemed to be of some consequence, collected a kind of tribute from those who sold fruit and roots, taking a portion out of each canoe; for which cause, the sailors named him the Custom-house Officer. The seamen were as eager as ever in purchasing curiosities, and as pieces of cloth were usually given in exchange, most of them, as the Captain remarks, were "stripped of the few clothes the ladies of Otaheite had left them." The disgraceful traffic with females, alluded to in this remark, was not, however, permitted here; for a loathsome disease, the effect of licentiousness, being now on board, the Captain, to prevent its being communicated to the natives, strictly prohibited all such intercourse, and gave positive orders that no female should enter the ship. An elderly female, who had been useful in conducting the negociation with the islanders, offered the Captain
