5 8 4
in the afternoon we returned to the fhore again, and
I walked on the hills to the fouthward, which rofe with a
very eafy dope. Here I met with a large plantation of
bananas,' beyond which I found feme remains of a ftone
wall, which was perhaps once the bafe of a ftatue. From
thence I eroded fome fields, where I faw a family of the
natives at work, taking potatoes out of the ground. I
walked up to their hut, which was one of the fmalleft I
had yet feen, and as they came about me, I fat down among
them. Their whole number amounted to fix or feven
perfons, one of whom was a woman, and two were young
boys. They prefented me with fome fugar-canes, and in
return, I made them a prefent of a fmall piece of Taheitee
cloth, which they immediately wrapped about the head.
They did not exprefs that great curiofity which we had
obferved among the people of the Society Ifles, but foon
returned to their former occupation, in which all were employed
without exception. Some of them had head*drelles
made of feathers, which they readily offered to exchange
for pieces of cloth no bigger than a handkerchief. About
the hut I perceived a few fowls, the only ones which I
had feen alive on the ifland. Their behaviour towards me
was wholly inoffenfive, agreeably to the general character
of the nations in the South Sea. From the expreflions of
the hiftorians of Roggewein’s voyage, it fhould feem, that
the Dutch very wantonly fired upon the natives, who gave
no
no provocation, and killed a confiderable number Of them,
intimidating the reft to a great degree. It is probable,
that the terror with which they looked upon the deftruflive
arms of Europeans at that time, and during the-late vifit
of the Spaniards, was revived among them at our appearance,
and had an influence on their general timid behaviour
towards u s ; but it is not to be doubted, at the fame
time, that there is a mildnefs, fellow-feeling, and good-nature
in their difpofition, which naturally prompts them to
treat their vifitors kindly, and even hofpitably, as far as
their wretched country will permit.
I returned the fame way, by which I came, and foon after
went on board the flop with captain Cook. About nipe
o’clock a mufket was fired on Chore, as a fignal for a boat,
and the pinnace being fent off, returned foon after with our
party, who had been to examine the ifland. My father
being more fatigued than any body elfe, on account of his
long rheumatic complaint, was obliged to go to bed immediately
; but the other gentlemen fupped with us, on a few
fowls which we had purchafed on fhore, and gave us fome
account of their travels. As it will be moil agreeable to fee
it in connection, I fhall here infert that which I have extracted
from my father’s journal.
“ Immediately after landing, we walked directly inland
or acrofs.the country, under the higheft hill which lies towards
the fouth, till vve came to the other fide of the ifland,
Vol.I. • 4 F About
1,774*
Marc a,