to. thefe people, on account of the vaH fimilarity between their
manners, language and perfons, and thofe of his nation,
was continually engaged in converfation with them, and
purchafed a great number of their ornaments. He fliewed
them many cuftoms of his country, with which they were
unacquainted, and among thefe was the method of lighting
a fire, by rubbing together the dry Hicks of the ttbifats
tiliaceus, to which they were extremely attentive. Captain
Cook found a great quantity of vegetables, fome fowla
and hogs, at the trading place, which he purchafed for
fmall nails, knives, pieces of cloth, &c. The red feathers
of Tonga-Tabboo, or Amfterdam Ifland, were likewife in
great repute here, and the natives gave many head-dreffes,
and other ornaments, in exchange for them. We faw only
one woman this day, who fat down in the circle of her
countrymen, and was drefled in a piece of cloth made of
bark, like the women of the Society Iflands. She was an
elderly woman, and fcarce diflinguifbable fiom a Tahe-itian.
We walked this day about a mile and a half,' on the fouth
fide of the rivulet. After croffing a clear fpot, from whence
we had a full profpedb of the harbour, we entered a thick
wood, where we faw chiefly the ratta, or Taheitee nut-
trees (inocarpus *) which grew to a confiderable fize and
height, and fome fine bread-fruit trees ; both which are
* See Forft. Nova Genera Plantar.
planted
planted in the plains at Taheitee, the heat being lefs vio- aJ*
lent there than at thefe iflands. At laft we came to one
of the huts of the natives, which, in comparifon with the
lofty houfes of the Society Iflands, was only a wretched
hovel. It was placed on an elevated platform of Hones,
which were not ftnooth and even enough to form a very
comfortable couch, though they were covered with mats.
On this bafe the natives bad eredted a quantity of bamboo-
canes, clofely connected together, between five and fix feet
high, above which the roof rofe in a ridge at top, confifi-
ing of fmall Hicks, thatched with the leaves of the breadfruit
and ratta tree. The whole houfe might be about fifteen
feet long, and eight or ten feet broad, and the method
of placing it on a foundation of Hones, deemed to intimate
that the country is fubjedl to heavy rains and inundations
at certain feafons. We faw fome large wooden troughs
here, and found pieces of bread-fruit, mixed with water,
in them. Three' natives appeared near the hut, who, at
our defire, went down about a hundred yards to the brook,
and brought us fome frefh water to drink. Having rewarded
them for their readinefs to ferve us, we walked to
the beach, and from thence returned on board. In getting
into our boat, we ran the greatefi rifk in the world of being
overfet, and were wetted by the furf, which broke upon
the rocks. Mahine, who Hill remained on Chore, plunged
into the water, and fwam to the boat, to prevent our expofing