' ^ Selves trader the lhade of this roof, and their guide feeing;
them a good deal exhaufted, tools feveral of the bananas
and offered them, with the affurance that they were maa
maitai, “ good eating.” They accepted them after this recommendation,
and finding them really as delicious as they
had been defcribed, made no fcruple to feaft with the
gods-. As the evening was now advancing, they returned-
to the fea-fhore, well pleafed with their reception among;
thefe good-natured people, and brought on board a few
plants,, which we. foon recognized as the productions
common to tropical countries.
Wednefa.i!. We contemplated the fcenery before us early the next
morning, when its beauties were mod engaging. The-
harbour in which we lay was very fmall, and would not
have admitted many more veftels befides our own. The-
water in it was as fmooth as the fineft mirrour,.and the feai
broke with a fnowy foam around us upon the outer reef.
The plain at the foot of the hills was very narrow in this-
place, but always conveyed the pleafing ideas of fertility,,
plenty, and happinefs. Juft over againft us it ran up between
the hills into a' long narrow valley, rich in plantations,
interfperfed with the houfes of the natives. The
flopes of the hills, covered with woods, crofted each other
©n both fides, varioufly tinted according to their diftances
and beyond them, over the cleft of the valley, we faw the
interior mountains fhattered into various peaks and fpires,.
among
among which was one remarkable pinnacle, whofe fum- d$ji|
mit was frightfully bent to one fide, and feemed to threaten
its downfall every moment. The ferenity of the fky,
the genial warmth of the air, and the beauty of the land—
fcape, united to exhilarate our fpirits.
The launches of both fhips were fent to a Whdi-urua, to'
fetch the anchors which we had left there when we ftruck-
on the reef, A party of marines and feamen were ordered
on fliore at the fame time, to carry on a trade for provisions,
and to fill our empty calks with frefli water. For
this purpofe they occupied the remains of an abandoned
Ihed or cottage on the beach, which at once gave them
flielter from the fun, and fecured them againft the thievifti
difpofition of the people. Before captain Cook went afliore
he received a vifit from a man of fome note, called o-Pooe .
who brought his two fons on board. They prefented the
captain with fome of their cloth and fome little trifles, and
in return they received knives, nails, beads, and a fiiirr, in.
which having drefted themfelves, they accompanied us to
the fliore.
Our firft care was, to leave the dry fandy beach,
which could afford us.no difcoveries in our fcience, and
to examine the plantations, which from the Ihips had an
enchanting appearance, notwithftanding the brownilh call
which the time of the year had given. We found them indeed
to anfwer the expeditions we had formed of a
country/