Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/151

] ordered some yams, a bread-fruit, some pork and plantains, to be brought; and we were much surprised to see him eat with a very hearty appetite; for we imagined that he was not hungry, as he had done so little honour to our General's table. We had no reason to suppose, that our dishes had not been to his taste, since the other natives were perfectly satisfied with them. Perhaps it is a point of etiquette, for his majesty not to indulge his appetite when he accepts an invitation, particularly from strangers. He afterwards made a speech, in which, no doubt, he expressed our friendly disposition toward them, and our intention to punish all who should be guilty of robbing us; and then he repaired to the island of Tongataboo.

Just before night Feenou brought the sabre which had been taken from one of our gunners. He returned it to the General, and made him a present of a very large fish, of the perch genus, the perca guttata (the hind of Catesby). Before he left us, he informed the canoes around, that we should begin to trade with them again the next day.

30th. Very early the next morning our boat was sent on shore to the island of Pangaïmotoo, with a quantity of stuffs and hardware. The canoes round our ship were several times desired