1774*
September. them with luxuriance. We had, not afcended an hour,,
when we met a body of near two hundred men of the natives
defending, moft of them well armed, who feemed to
have come on purpofe to fee the flrangers. The greater
part turned back with us, feeing us advance towards the
fummit of the hill. Being near the fummit, we flopped to>
look at fome flakes placed here and there in the ground;,
with dry branches of trees and dry grafles laid, acrofs them..
The natives told us, they buried their dead on this, hill, and
that the flakes indicated the places where every one was interred.
In the meanwhile, captain Cook, with the matter,.
had reached the fummit of the hill, from whence he beheld
the fea on the fouth fide, at no greater diftance from, the-
mountains than that to the north. A plain appeared on.
that fide watered by various rivulets, and fome' plantations;
could be difernedvbut upon the whole, no material difference
was obferved between the two fides o f the ridge. The natives
feeing us very dry, and tired by the immenfe heat of
the day, brought us fome fugar-canes; though I cannot;
conceive where they found them fo foon, as we could: not
fee, or indeed fuppofe, any growing in the neighbourhoods
The tops of the hills were almoft entirely barren, but ftill
confifted of the fame kind of ftone, which feems to indicate^
that New Caledonia contains fome valuable minerals.
Their height, from the time which the afcent took up, and
all other circumfiances confidered,, appears not to be very,
conconfiderable,
and mutt be inferior to the height of the Table- Sept”mBes.
mountain at the Cape of Good Hope, which, according to
abbé la Caille*, is faid to be 3 3 5 ° Rhmlarid feet high.
We defended by a different path, which was more fteep and
rugged than the firft, but likewife brought us down on
the plain in a much fhorter time. We found a number o f
plantations on that part of the plain where we came down,
which was a confiderable way to the weflward of our watering
place. A few habitations, of the natives were «mated in
the- midft of thefe cultivated fpots, without being fheltered-
againtt the fun. Their inhabitants came out, and offered us.
fome cups, full of frefh water, which the heat rendered very
acceptable. This friendly aftion is fully fufficient to prove-
that the people have a kind and hofpitable difpofition, which,
nothing but their indigence, and their ungrateful foil, prevented
them from manifefting in a more linking manner.
In our polifhed regions we fometimes fee real generpfity
fhine through the cracks of a ruinous cottage, while it
faintly glimmers in fumptuous palaces.
Having rejoined our watering party, we returned on,
hoard, where we found a number of natives, who vifited
every part of the fhip, and difpofed of their clubs, fpears,,
and ornaments. One among them was. prodigioufly tall,
and feemed at leaft fix feet five inches high,, and the black
* See h is -Voyage, P ..237?
cylindrical