Jan 28, 1789 Home Logbook Jan 30, 1789
Revised Jun 29 2021
177)
Fresh Breezes with Squalls of Rain, Calms and fair intervals. Wind generally ENE to ESE and the Thermr. from 82° to 83°.
Armourer, Sailmakers, Carpenters and Cooper employed on the necessary duties of the Ship. Boatswain airing sails. Tynah continues to give me a few Trees. Sent some hands to cut them up. Five Venereals in the List. Cleaned Ship. — I went with Tynah this morning to see the operations of a Fishing Fleet of Cannoes that went out without the Reefs. They all fished at this time with lines and Rods and caught a great number of Bonitos, by using their bare hooks, as we use a Fly. Their Rods are made of the Bamboo and the length of the line is a foot short of it. But their extraordinary and curious method of taking larger or particular Fish is by a heavy outrigger over the fore part of the Cannoe about 20 or 25 feet long, which is raised or lowered on an axis by two ropes, kept in the hands of two men in the stern of the Cannoe, which are fastened about one half up the Pole. This Pole is made of two or three peices scarfed together, curved towards the end and at the very extremity forms as a fork. To each prong is fastened a line and when a Fish takes the Hook, it is raised with great ease & taken into the Cannoe. The principal use of this contrivance is that it keeps the Hook in Constant motion and if the Fish is of a large size it is easyer got into the Cannoe. The Top of the fork is always ornamented with a bunch of black feathers.
Whenever there is a show of Fish a large Fleet of Cannoes proceed to Sea. Sometimes they pray to the Eatua for their success, but at all times they carry in each Cannoe a Basket with some Cocoa nutts Bread fruit and Plantains as an offering to him. The Basket is square made of Reeds and has a place sacred to it in the Cannoe.
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My situation here is now become little other than in a European Port, the Natives visit us by two or three Cannoes at a time and are seldom crowded. I buy nothing at the Ship or is anything brought to sell, our supply being easily procured by Mr Peckover on shore, Breadfruit, Cocoa nutts and Plantains we are supplied with by presents, but the Hogs are all bought by Mr Peckover in walking round the neighbourhood. I now receive but very few presents of Hogs from any of the Cheifs, however I pay them every tribute of gratitude for their former favors, by supplying them with whatever they are in want of, besides making frequent presents. This has given me great proofs of their delicacy, however it has established such a degree of friendship among us that I beleive no Ship was ever in so happy a situation.
There is no confidence but what they place in me and the moderation I have shown in not confining any of the Cheifs as was expected in the late case of the Desertion of my people, has made a lasting impression on them.
Jan 28, 1789 Home Logbook Jan 30, 1789