Early in the morning of the 7th, the natives began again to assemble near the watering-place, armed as usual, but not in such numbers as at first.  After breakfast, we landed, in order to cut wood and fill water.  I found many of the islanders much inclined to be friends with us, especially the old people; on the other hand, most of the younger were daring and insolent, and obliged us to keep to our arms.  I staid till I saw no disturbance was like to happen, and then returned to the ship, leaving the party under the command of Lieutenants Clerke and Edgcumbe.  When they came on board to dinner, they informed me that the people continued to behave in the same inconsistent manner as in the morning; but more especially one man, whom Mr Edgcumbe was obliged to fire at, and believed he had struck with a swan shot.  After that the others behaved with more discretion; and as soon as our people embarked they all retired.  While we were sitting at dinner an old man came on board, looked into many parts of the ship, and then went ashore again.

In the afternoon, only a few of those who lived in the neighbourhood, with whom we were now upon a tolerable footing, made their appearance at the watering-place.  Paowang brought us an axe which had been left by our people, either in the woods or on the beach, and found by some of the natives.  A few other articles were afterwards returned to us, which either they had stolen, or we had lost by our negligence, so careful were they now not to offend us in this respect.

Early the next morning, I sent the launch, protected by a party of marines in another boat, to take in ballast, which was wanted.  This work was done before breakfast; and after it, she was sent for wood and water, and with her the people employed in this service, under the protection of a serjeant’s guard, which was now thought sufficient, as the natives seemed to be pretty well reconciled to us.  I was told, that they asked our people to go home with them, on condition they stripped naked as they were.  This shews that they had no design to rob them, whatever other they might have.

On the 9th, I sent the launch for more ballast, and the guard and wooders to the usual place.  With these I went myself, and found a good many of the natives collected together, whose behaviour, though armed, was courteous and obliging; so that there was no longer any occasion to mark out the limits by a line; they observed them without this precaution.  As it was necessary for Mr Wales’s instruments to remain on shore all the middle of the day, the guard did not return to dinner, as they had done before, till relieved by others.  When I came off, I prevailed on a young man, whose name was Wha-a-gou, to accompany me.  Before dinner I shewed him every part of the ship; but did not observe that any thing fixed his attention a moment, or caused in him the least surprise.  He had no knowledge of goats, dogs, or cats, calling them all hogs (Booga or Boogas).