ich it passed within ten yards of the stern,
making a rustling noise, but without their feeling the least effect from
its being so near. The rate at which it travelled was judged to be about
ten miles per hour, going towards the west, in the direction of the
wind; and in a quarter of an hour after passing the ship, it dispersed.
As they passed several low islands, the natives of one of them came out
in their canoes, and it was observed that they all spoke the language of
Otaheite. Presents of iron, beads, and a looking-glass were given to
them; but it was observed that the chief, on leaving the ship, took
possession of everything that had been distributed. One of them showed
some signs of dissatisfaction; but after a little altercation they
joined noses and were reconciled.

The _Bounty_ anchored at Anamooka on the 23rd April; and an old lame
man, named Tepa, whom Bligh had known here in 1777, and immediately
recollected, came on board along with others from different islands in
the vicinity. This man having formerly been accustomed to the English
manner of speaking their language, the Commander found he could converse
with him tolerably well. He told him that the cattle which had been left
at Tongataboo had all bred, and that the old ones were yet living. Being
desirous of seeing the ship, he and his companions were taken below, and
the bread-fruit and other plants were shown to them, on seeing which
they were greatly surprised.

'I landed,' says Bligh, 'in order to procure some bread-fruit plants to
supply the place of one that was dead, and two or three others that were
a little sickly. I walked to the west part of the bay, where some plants
and seeds had been sown by Captain Cook; and had the satisfaction to
see, in a plantation close by, about twenty fine pineapple plants, but
no fruit, this not being the proper season. They told me that they had
eaten many of them, that they were very fine and large, and that at
Tongataboo there were great numbers.'

Numerous were the marks of mourning with which these people disfigure
themselves, such as bloody temples, their heads deprived of most of the
hair, and, which was worse, almost all of them with the loss of some of
their fingers. Several fine boys, not above six years of age, had lost
both their little fingers; and some of the men had parted with the
middle finger of the right hand.

A brisk trade soon began to be carried on for yams; some plantains and
bread-fruit