Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/124

98 desired to see the Commander of the vessel, and immediately ordered a hog to be brought, of which he made him a present. This person expressed much gratitude on receiving a hatchet from the General's own hands.

In less than an hour we procured, by way of barter, a dozen hogs, the smallest of which was at least a hundred weight. For each a hatchet, of a middling size, was given.

The General had given orders to one of his officers to treat with the islanders for what provision they could furnish; and to prevent all competition, which might have been injurious to the supply of our ships, he had forbidden every other person to make any exchange. But it was impossible to see these orders executed to the letter; and it was difficult to resist the eagerness of the natives to dispose of their wares, which each endeavoured to display to the best advantage. We were much amused to see them holding their little pigs under their arms, and every now and then pulling them by the ears to make them squeal, that we might know they had them to sell.

A chief of the warriors, named Feenou, came on board about five in the afternoon. He was a man about forty-five years of age, of a middling stature, and very fat. Like the rest of the