1771. in the afternoon we approached the northernmoft end of
the ifland, and perceived fome fmall ifles connected by reefs
to the eaftward. Their fituation and that of the fhoal to
the north-weft, where the fea broke with great violence,
convinced us that we were now arrived at the very place
where Tafman anchored in 1643, and which he called Van
Diemen’s Road. Here we dropped an anchor upon a rocky
hank; and were immediately furrounded with numbers
of the natives, fome in canoes, and fome fwimming,
though we lay about a quarter of a mile from the Ihore.
' We found them to be of. the fame nation which inhabited
Ea-oowhe, and their mercantile turn prompted them to
bring an immenfe quantity of their doth, mats, nets, utenfils,
arms, and ornaments, which they eagerly exchanged for
beads and nails. The {hips were no fooner moored, than
a prohibition was made againft purchafing curiofities, and
the natives were told to bring coco-nuts, bread-fruit, yams,
and bananas, as well as hogs and fowls, of which we had
already learnt the names. We purcbafed a fmall quantity
of proviftons the fame evening, to give an example to the
reft of the inhabitants, who were obliged to take their merchandize
on Ihore again. The good effedts of this ftep
appeared the next morning, when the natives returned
from (hote at day-break, and had loaded their canoes with
vegetables and fowls. Many of them came on board as
freely as if we had been old acquaintances, and did not
appear
appear to have the leaft idea of dlftruft. One of them, a
well made man, with a handfome open countenance, feemed
to have fome authority among them, like the chief whom
we had feen on Ea-oowhe. He defcended into the cabin,
acquainted us that his name was Attahha, and received
feveral prefents, among which he fat a high value on iron,
and on red European broad-cloth. After breakfaft he went
on £hore with us in the pinnace. A coral reef furrounded
the coaft, at the diftance of a mufket-lhor, and a Angle
narrow pafs admitted us within it, where we found the
water fo full of rocks and fo fhallow, that we were obliged
to be carried out of the boat. A party of the marines were
pofted on the beach in cafe of danger, to protect the captain’s
clerk, who traded for proviftons. The natives did not
exprefs either furprize o.r diflike at this proceeding, perhaps
becaufe they were unacquainted with .its meaning. They
received us with acclamations of joy as at Ea-oowhe, and
defired us to fit down with them on the rocks along iliore,
which eonfifted of coral, and were covered with {hell fand.
We purchafed feveral beautiful parroquets, pigeons, and
doves, which they brought to us perfectly tame; and our
young Borabora-man Mahine (or Hedeedee) traded with
great eagernefs for ornaments made of bright red feathers,
which he aflured us had an extraordinary value at Taheitee
and the Society Iflands. Here they were commonly patted
to aprons ufed in their dances, and made of the fibres of
. 17 7 3 *
October.
COCO-*