the hereditary right
of the crown.

The party now arrived at the residence of a great chief, who received
them with much hospitality and kindness; and after refreshing them with
plenty of meat and drink, carried the officer to visit the Morai of the
dead chief, his father. Mr. Corner judging it necessary, by every mark of
attention, to gain the good graces of this great man, ordered his party
to draw up, and fire three vollies over the deceased, who was brought out
in his best new cloaths, on the occasion; but the burning cartridge from
one of the muskets, unfortunately set fire to the paper cloaths of the
dead chief. This unlucky disaster threw the son into the greatest
perplexity, as agreeable to their laws, should the corpse of his father
be stolen away, or otherwise destroyed, he forfeits his title and estate,
and it descends to the next heir.

There was at the same time a party embarked by water, under the command
of Lieutenant Hayward, who took with him some of the principal chiefs,
amongst whom was Oedidy, before mentioned by Captain Cook, who went a
voyage with him, but fell into disrepute amongst them, from affirming he
had seen water in a solid form; alluding to the ice. He also took with
him one Brown, an Englishman, that had been left on shore by an American
vessel that had called there, for being troublesome on board: but
otherwise a keen, penetrating, active fellow, who rendered many eminent
services, both in this expedition and the subsequent part of the voyage.
He had lived upwards of twelve months amongst the natives, adopted
perfectly their manners and customs, even to the eating of raw fish, and
dipping his roast pork into a cocoa nut shell of salt water, according to
their manner, as substitute for salt. He likewise avoided all intercourse
and communication with the _Bounty's_ people, by which means necessity
forced him to gain a pretty competent knowledge of their language; and
from natural complexion was much darker than any of the natives.

Captain Edwards had taken every possible means of gaining the friendship
of Tamarrah, the great prince of the upper district, by sending him very
liberal presents, which effectually brought him over to our interest. The
mutineers were now cut off from every hope of resource; the natives were
harrassing them behind, and Mr. Hayward and his party advancing in front;
under cover of night they had taken shelter in a hut in the woods, but
were discovered by Brown,