fair
by the authorities, but of course Captain Rogers was unable to go on
shore again while he remained in the harbour.

Having repaired our ship and taken on board several fresh hands, who
wished to return home to England, we sailed again for the Marquesas, in
order to land the natives whom we had taken from those islands.

The passage lasted five weeks, during which time we didn't see a single
ship. We proceeded at once to Resolution Bay. On entering we found a
French man-of-war, which immediately sent a boat on board us.

The officer in command informed the captain that the islands now
belonged to France, and that we must not land anything in the shape of
firearms or ammunition.

While he was still on board a boat pulled off from the shore, bringing a
dozen soldiers, who, without asking leave, came up the side.

"Why do these men come on board my ship?" asked the captain.

"To see that you comply with the orders you receive," answered the
officer, who spoke very good English.

"I have no intention of breaking the laws you impose," exclaimed the
captain, who was not the man to stand that sort of thing, "but I'll not
submit to have foreign soldiers placed on board my ship."

The French officer shrugged his shoulders, and said that he was but
carrying out the orders of his superiors.

On this the captain ordered his boat to be lowered, and pulled away on
board the French man-of-war. He there threatened to throw the ship on
the hands of the French if the soldiers were not immediately withdrawn.

After a little time the captain returned, accompanied by a French
lieutenant, who brought an order for the soldiers to return on shore.
Our stay here was rendered very unpleasant by the French. As soon as we
got our fresh provisions on board we sailed again for the westward,
proceeding as before among the coral reefs, which lie to the north of
the Society Islands. The navigation is exceedingly dangerous, as many
of them are so low that they cannot be seen till the ship is close to
them, and we had to keep a very sharp look-out as we sailed on. The
most dangerous of all those we sighted was the Sidney group, which
consist of bare sandbanks, without the least vegetation, and are nearly
level with the surface of the sea. We landed on some of them to obtain
birds' eggs and fish, which are very plentiful, but they are
uninhabited, as there is no fresh water.

Still sailing west we touched at the Kingsmills, passing