f
stealing, quiet would have been uninterrupted. Nothing, however, could
check this propensity, till Captain Cook shaved the heads of all whom he
caught practicing it. This rendered them an object of ridicule to their
countrymen, and enabled the English to recognize and keep them at a
distance. Most of the Friendly Isles were visited by the ships, and
everywhere they met with a kind reception. On June 10 they reached
Tongataboo, where the King offered Captain Cook his house to reside in.
Here he made a distribution of animals amongst the chiefs, and the
importance of preserving them was explained by Omai. Two kids and two
turkey-cocks having been stolen, the captain seized three canoes, put a
guard over the chiefs, and insisted that not only the kids and turkeys
should be restored, but also everything that had been taken away since
their arrival. This produced a good effect, and much of the plunder was
returned.

[Illustration: Deliverance. (Page 194.)]

Captain Cook remained at the Friendly Islands nearly three months, and
lived almost entirely during that period upon fresh provisions,
occasionally eating the produce of the seeds he had sown there in his
former visits. On July 17, they took their final leave of these
hospitable people, and on August 12 reached Otaheite, and took up a
berth in Oaiti-piha Bay, which, it was discovered, had been visited by
two Spanish ships since the _Resolution_ had last been there.

Animals of various kinds had been left in the country by the Spaniards,
and the islanders spoke of them with esteem and respect. On the 24th the
ships went round to Matavai Bay, and Captain Cook presented to the king,
Otoo, the remainder of his live stock.

They here witnessed a human sacrifice, to propitiate the favor of their
gods in a battle they were about to undertake. The victim was generally
some strolling vagabond, who was not aware of his fate till the moment
arrived, and he received his death-blow from a club. For the purpose of
showing the inhabitants the use of the horses, Captains Cook and Clerke
rode into the country, to the great astonishment of the islanders; and
though this exercise was continued every day by some of the _Resolution's_
people, yet the wonder of the natives never abated.

On the return of Omai to the land of his birth, the reception he met
with was not very cordial; but the affection of his relatives was strong
and ardent. Captain Cook obtained the grant of a piece of la