.1773. Aug;0s:t,'
hauled up along the fandy beaches. About half a mile
from the fhore a ledge of rocks level with the water,
extended parallel to the land, on which the furf broke,
leaving a fmooth and fecure harbour within. The fun beginning
to illuminate the plain, its inhabitants arofe,
and enlivened the fcene. Having perceived the large
veffels on their coaft, feveral of them haflened to the beach,
launched their canoes, and paddled towards us, who were
highly delighted in watching all their occupations.
The canoes foon paffed through the openings in the reef,
and one of them approached within hale. In it were two
men almoft naked, with a kind of turban on the head, and a
fa{h round their waift. They waved a large green leaf,
and accofted us with the repeated exclamation of tayo*!
which even without the help of vocabularies, we cpuld
.cafily tranllate into the expreffion of proffered friendflnp.
The canoe now came under our ftern, and we let down
a prefent of beads, nails, and medals to the men. In return,
they handed up to us a green ftem of a plantane,
which was their fymbol of peace, with a defire that it
might be fitted in a confpicuous part of the veffel. It was
accordingly ftuck up in the main fhrouds, upon which
our new friends immediately returned towards the land.
In a fliort time we faw great crouds of people on the fea-
flrore gazing at us, while numbers in confequence of this
* See Bougainville’s Voyage, Tnglifll Edition, p. 2 >7 - treaty
ZSS
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treaty of peace, which was now firmly eflablifhed, launched A ugust,.
rheir canoes, and loaded them with various prod u cl ions of
their country. In lefs than an hour we were furrounded
by an hundred eanoes, each of which carried one, two,
three, and fometimes four perfons, who placed a perfedt
confidence in us, and had no arms whatfoever. The welcome
found of tayo refounded on all fides, and we returned
it with a degree of heart-felt pleafure, on this favourable
change of our fituation. Coco nuts, and plan-
tanes in great quantity, bread-fruit and feveral other vegetables,
befides feme frefh fifh were offered to us, and
eagerly exchanged for tranfparent beads, and fmall nails,
Pieces of cloth, fifh-haoks, hatchets of ftone, and a number
of tools, were likewife brought for fale and readily difpofed-
of ; and many canoes kept plying between us and the
fhore, exhibiting a pidlure of a new kind of fair. I immediately
began to trade for natural productions through1
rhe cabin-windows-, and in half an hour had got together
two or three fpecies of unknown birds, and a great number
of new fifties, whole colours while alive were exquifitely
beautiful. I therefore employed the morning in fketching
their outlines, and laying on the vivid hues, before they
difappeared in the dying objects.
The people around us had mild features, and a pleafing;
eountenance ; they were about our fize, of a pale mahogany
brown, bad fine black hair and eyes, and wore a piece of clothround'