nd for him
on the west side of Owharre harbor, Huaheine. The carpenters of the
ships built him a small house, to which a garden was attached, planted
with shaddocks, vines, pineapples, melons, etc., and a variety of
vegetables, the whole of which were thriving before Captain Cook quitted
the island. When the house was finished, the presents Omai had received
in England were carried ashore, with every article necessary for
domestic purposes, as well as two muskets, a bayonet, a brace of
pistols, etc.

The two lads brought from New Zealand were put on shore at this place,
to form part of Omai's family; but it was with great reluctance that
they quitted the voyagers, who had behaved so kindly to them.

Whilst lying at Huaheine, a thief, who had caused them great trouble,
not only had his head and beard shaved, but, in order to deter others,
both his ears were cut off. On November 3, the ships went to Ulietea,
and here, decoyed by the natives, two or three desertions took place;
and as others seemed inclined to follow the example, Captain Clerke
pursued the fugitives with two-armed boats and a party of marines, but
without effect. Captain Cook experienced a similar failure; he therefore
seized upon the persons of the chief's son, daughter, and son-in-law,
whom he placed under confinement till the people should be restored,
which took place on the 28th, and the hostages were released. One of the
deserters was a midshipman of the _Discovery_, and the son of a brave
officer in the service. Schemes were projected by some of the natives to
assassinate Captain Cook and Captain Clerke; but though in imminent
danger, the murderous plans failed.

At Bolabola, Captain Cook succeeded in obtaining an anchor which had
been left there by M. Bougainville, as he was very desirous of
converting the iron into articles of traffic. They left this place on
December 8, crossed the line, and on the 24th stopped at a small island,
which he named Christmas Island, and where he planted cocoa-nuts, yams,
and melon seeds, and left a bottle enclosing a suitable inscription.

On January 2, 1778, the ships resumed their voyage northward, to pursue
the grand object in Behring's Strait. They passed several islands, the
inhabitants of which, though at a great distance from Otaheite, spoke
the same language. Those who came on board displayed the utmost
astonishment at everything they beheld, and it was evident they had
never seen a ship before. The dispo