The 28th was spent by me in much the same manner as the preceding day, viz. in entertaining my friends, and being entertained by them.  Mr Forster and his party in the country botanizing.

Next morning, we found several articles had been stolen, out of our boats lying at the buoy, about sixty or seventy yards from the ship.  As soon as I was informed of it, I went to the chief to acquaint him therewith.  I found that he not only knew they were stolen, but by whom, and where they were; and he went immediately with me in my boat in pursuit of them.  After proceeding a good way along shore, towards the south end of the island, the chief ordered us to land near some houses, where we did not wait long before all the articles were brought to us, except the pinnace’s iron tiller, which I was told was still farther off.  But when I wanted to go after it, I found the chief unwilling to proceed; and he actually gave me the slip; and retired into the country.  Without him I knew I could do nothing.  The people began to be alarmed when they saw I was for going farther; by which I concluded that the tiller was out of their reach also.  I therefore sent one of them to the chief to desire him to return.  He returned accordingly; when we sat down, and had some victuals set before us, thinking perhaps that, as I had not breakfasted, I must be hungry, and not in a good humour.  Thus I was amused, till two hogs were produced, which they entreated me to accept.  This I did, and then their fears vanished; and I thought myself not ill off, in having gotten two good hogs for a thing which seemed to be quite out of my reach.  Matters being thus settled, we returned on board, and had the company of the chief and his son to dinner.  After that we all went ashore, where a play was acted for the entertainment of such as would spend their time in looking at it.  Besides these plays, which the chief caused frequently to be acted, there was a set of strolling players in the neighbourhood, who performed everyday.  But their pieces seemed to be so much alike, that we soon grew tired of them; especially as we could not collect any interesting circumstances from them.  We, our ship, and our country, were frequently brought on the stage; but on what account I know not.  It can hardly be doubted, that this was designed as a compliment to us, and probably not acted but when some of us were present.  I generally appeared at Oree’s theatre towards the close of the play, and twice at the other, in order to give my mite to the actors.  The only actress at Oree’s theatre was his daughter, a pretty brown girl, at whose shrine, on these occasions, many offerings were made by her numerous votaries.  This, I believe, was one great inducement to her father’s giving us these entertainments so often.