The Tonquin passes Vatoa on December 10…
December 1808 CE
Greeted by a group of iTaukei men bearing gifts of fruit, the Americans inform their hosts of the previous agreement made over sandalwood.
The dignitaries soon depart to transmit news elsewhere.
Shortly after sunrise the next day, iTaukei men give fresh coconuts, breadfruit, hogs, and yams from their assembled canoes
The local leader, Tynahoa, arrives with his followers and announces that he has the agreed amount of sandalwood harvested and stockpiled.
Over the course of an hour the Americans and Tynahoa hold a discussion on board the Tonquin.
He tells the merchants that several British ships from Port Jackson had visited and are still anchored nearby during the time of Brumley's absence.
However, he is insistent that no sandalwood has been sold to them, as he has declared a tabu on the sale of sandalwood among his subordinates.
The sandalwood is delivered gradually to the Tonquin from subjects of Tynahoa.
This process will span several months, although the wait is apparently worth it.
Fanning will later state that the entire hull and part of the deck were loaded with the raw material.
The tabu will be formally absolved by Tynahoa, allowing the waiting British merchants to finally purchase their own supplies of sandalwood.
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