äÜgdst which we breakfafted. The croud who followed us, fat
down at a diftance from us, at our defire, in order that
•they might have no opportunity of fnatehing up any of our
arms, or other apparatus, which we were obliged to lay
out of our hands, while we made our meal. To add to
our good cheer, we were prefented with a coco-nut Ihell
full of a kind of diminutive frelh fifli, which the natives are
ufed to eat raw, without any other fauce than fait water.
We tailed them, and found them far from difagreeable ;
however, as we were not ufed to eat them without being
dretted, we diftributed them, with the remains of the fruit,
to our favourites among the croud.
Thus refrelhed, we continued our walk, but turned towards
the hills, notwithftanding the importunities of the
natives, who urged us to continue on the plain, which we
eafily perceived arofe merely from their dillike to fatigue.
We were not to be diverted from our purpofe; but leaving
behind us almoft the whole croud, w.e entered, with a few
guides, a chafm between two hills. There we found feveral
wild plants which were new to us, and faw a number of
little fwallows flying over a fine brook, which rolled impe-
tuoufly along. We walked up along its banks to a perpendicular
rock, fringed with various tufted fhrubberies, from
whence it fell in a eryftalline column, and was colledled at
the bottom into a fmooth limpid pond, furrounded with
many fpecies of odoriferous flowers. This fpot, where we
had
\
had a profpect of the plain below us, and of the fea beyond A
it, was one of the moft beautiful I had ever feen, and could
not fail of bringing to remembrance the moft fanciful de-
fcriptions of poets, which it eclipfed in beauty. In the
fhade of trees, whofe branches hung over the water, we
enjoyed a pleafant gale, which foftened the heat of the
day, and amidft the fclemn uniform noife of the waterfall,
which was but feldom interrupted by the whiftling of birds,
we fat down to defcribe our new acquifitions before they
withered. Our Taheitian companions feeing us employed,
likewife retted among the bufhes, viewing us attentively
and in profound filence. We could have been well pleafed
to have patted the whole day in this retirement; however,
after finiftiing our notes, and feafting our eyes once more
with the romantick fcenery, we returned to the plain. Here
we obferved a great croud of the natives coming towards
us, and at their near approach perceived two of out fhip-
mates, Mr. Hodges and Mr. Grindall, whom they fur-
rounded and attended on their walk. We.foon joined them,
and refolved to continue our excurfion together. A youth,
of a very promifing countenance,, who had diftinguifhed
himfelf by fhewing a particular attachment for thefe gentlemen,
was entrufted with Mr. Hodges s port-folio, where
he preferved the fketches and defigns, which he had frequent
opportunities, of making on his walk. No favour,
or mark, of affe&ion could 1 believe have given, this youth
Von. I. P p f®