t nation it belonged; but from the pale colour[1] of the iron, and
its not corresponding in shape to our bolts, they concluded that it
certainly was not English. This led them to make a strict enquiry of
the native, when and where he got it; and, if they comprehended him
right, it had been taken out of a piece of timber, larger than the
cable-bit, to which he pointed. This piece of wood, they farther
understood from, him, to have been driven upon their island, since we
were here in January 1778.

[Footnote 1: It was evident, that the iron we found in possession of
the natives at Nootka Sound, and which was mostly made into knives,
was of a much paler sort than ours.]

On the 7th, we were surprised with a visit from Toneoneo. When
he heard the dowager-princess was in the ship, it was with great
difficulty we could prevail on him to come on board, not from any
apprehension that he appeared to entertain of his safety, but from an
unwillingness to see her. Their meeting was with sulky and lowering
looks on both sides. He staid but a short time, and seemed much
dejected; but we remarked, with some surprise, that the women, both at
his coming and going way, prostrated themselves before him; and that
he was treated by all the natives on board with the respect
usually paid to those of his rank. Indeed, it must appear somewhat
extraordinary, that a person who was at this time in a state of actual
hostility with Teavee's party, and was even prepared for another
battle, should trust himself almost alone within the power of his
enemies. It is therefore to be observed, that the civil dissentions,
which are very frequent throughout all the South-Sea Islands, seem to
be carried on without much acrimony or bloodshed; and that the deposed
governor still continues to enjoy the rank of an _Eree_, and is left
to make use of such means as may arise for the regaining his lost
consequence. But I shall have occasion to speak more particularly on
this subject in the next section; in which the best account will be
given, which we were able to collect, of the political state of those
countries.

On the 8th, at nine in the morning, we weighed, and sailed toward
Oneeheow; and at three in the afternoon anchored in twenty fathoms
water, nearly on the same spot as in the year 1778. We moored with the
other anchor in twenty-six fathoms water. The high bluff, on the south
end of the island, bore E.S.E.; the north point of the road, N. 1/2 E;
and a b