Why did Odysseus go to the island of the lotus eaters?

He and his men were suffering from thirst. They were on the sea, so of course, after so many men fought in the city of Ismaros, they were very thirsty and dehydrated. The Island of the Lotus Eaters was really the first "safe" area they came too. Odysseus sent his men to find the natives, and when they did, the natives gave them the lotus plant. This of course, made them lose hope of home. The three men didn't even go back to Odysseus, so he had to go find them. He took his men and tied him down to the benches on the ship, and then they departed from the island. Nuff said.