ther coco-nut nor bread-fruit trees, he feemed to think but
meanly of our country, though we enumerated all its other
advantages. Vfe were no fooner landed, than he ordered a
repaft of fifh and fruit to be ferved up, and infilled on our
partaking of it. We had juft dined before we left the fhip,
hut unwilling to give offence, we fat down and ate of the
provifions, which were excellent. Indeed we could'not but
compare this happy country to Mahomed’s Paradife, where
the appetite is never cloyed by being gratified. The meal
was already ferved, and We were going to help ourfelves,
when Towhah defired us to Hop. In a few moments one of
his attendants brought a large cook-knife, and fome bamboo-
flicks, inftead of forks. Towhah carved the victuals, and gave
each of us a bamboo, faying he would eat in the Englilh manner.
Inftead of eating his-bread-fruit by handfuls, he now
cut it fmall, and took a bit of it after every morfel of fifh,
to fhew how exactly he remembered our cuftom fince the
time of his dining with us. The good lady feafted apart
fome time afterwards, according to the invariably cuftom of
the country. We walked about and chatted with them
both till near funfet, when they embarked in their canoe,
and returned to the diftrift called Atahooroo, part of which
belonged to Towhah. They took leave of us very cordially,
and promifed to return to the fhip again in a few
days. We hired a double canoe for a nail, and returned
,on board before it was dark. I found Dr, Sparrman and
<sny father juft returned from the mountains. Noona, the f fSfc.
fame lively and intelligent boy whom I have already mentioned
in the former part of this narrative had been their
conductor. As they fet out in the afternoon (on the
28th) they only reached a fmall hut on the fecond ridge,
having crofted two deep vallies, and climbed two fteep
hills, rendered very flippery from a fmart fhower which had
■ fallen. Here they found a man with his wife and three
children. The man enlarged his cottage by means of
■ branches of trees, and prepared them a fupper ; after which,
having previoufly made a fire, they watched and flept by
turns. The fire was feen on board our fhip; and in return
they heard the ringing of the fhip’s bell at midnight, though
■ they were upwards of a league diftant from it. The whole
night was fair and cool ; but their friendly hoft, whofe
name was Tahea, had. a violent cough. At day break they
refumed their march towards the fummits, and Tahea led
the way, with a load of coco-nuts. The difficulties in-
creafed as they afeended; the paths »running along the
narrow ridge of fteep hills, whofe fides were almoft perpendicular.
Thegreateft danger arofe from the flipperinefs, oc-
cafioned by the rains of the preceding day. When they had
afeended to a confiderable height, they found thick fhrub-
beries and woods on thefe fteepjides ; and attempting to co.l-
Vol. II.
* See vol. I. p. 339.
p i left