him clean with a shell. He then opened him with the same instrument, and taking out his entrails, pluck, etc., sent them to the sea, where they were most carefully washed and put into cocoanut shells with what blood he had found in him. The stones were now laid, and the dog, well covered with leaves, laid upon them; in about two hours he was dressed, and in another quarter of an hour completely eaten. A most excellent dish he made for us, who were not much prejudiced against any species of food. I cannot, however, promise that an European dog would eat as well, as these in Otahite scarcely in their lives touch animal food; cocoanut kernel and bread-fruit, yams, etc., being what their masters can best afford to give them, and what indeed from custom I suppose they prefer to any other food.
24th. The market has been totally stopped ever since the boats were seized, nothing being offered for sale but a few apples; our friends, however, are liberal in presents, so that we make-shift to live without expending our bread, which last, and spirits, are our most valuable articles. Late in the evening Tubourai and Tamio returned from Eparre, bringing with them several presents, among the rest a large piece of thick cloth, which they desired that I would carry home to my sister Opia, and for which they would take no kind of return. They are often very inquisitive about our families, and remember anything that is told them very well.
26th. At three o'clock this morning Captain Cook and myself set out to the eastward in the pinnace, intending, if it was convenient, to go round the island.[1]
28th. We saw an English goose and a turkey-cock, which they told us had been left by the Dolphin, both of them immensely fat and as tame as possible, following the Indians everywhere, who seemed immensely fond of them.
29th. We saw a singular curiosity: a figure of a man made of basket-work, roughly but not ill designed. It was
- ↑ The circumnavigation of the island presents few interesting features beyond what was noticed on the 28th and 29th; any differences in customs are recorded in Chapter VII. ("General Account of the South Sea Islands").
