junfc fruit and a half, a few Ahees, and fome fire, were all that
e-—p - j it afforded; upon which, with a duck or two, and a few
curlieus, we made our fupper, which, if not fcanty, was
difagreeable, by the want of bread, with which we had
neglefled tofurnifh ourfelves, as we depended upon meeting
with bread-fruit, and took up our lodging under the awning
of a canoe belonging to Tearee, which followed us.
wedncr.»». The next morning, after having fpent fome time in another
fruitlefs attempt to procure a fupply of provifions, we
proceeded round the fouth eaft point, part of which is not
covered by any reef, but lies open to the fea; and here the
hill rifes direiftly from the fliore. At the fouthermoft part of
the ifland, the fhore is again covered by a reef, which forms
a good harbour; and the land about it is very fertile. We
made this rout partly on foot and partly in the boat: when
we-had walked about three miles, we arrived at a place
where we law feveral large canoes, and a number of people
with them, whom we were agreeably furprifed to find were
of our intimate acquaintance. Here, with much difficulty,
we procured fome cocoa-nuts, and then embarked, taking
with us Tuahow, one of the Indians who had waited for us at
Waheatua’s, and had returned the night before, long after it
was dark.
Whem we came abreaft of the fouth-eaft end of the ifland,
we went afhore, by the advice of our Indian guide, who told
us that the country was rich and good. The Chief, whofe
name was Mathiabo, foon came down to us, but feemed
to be a total ftranger both to us and to our trade: his fub-
jefts, however, brought us plenty of cocoa-nuts, and about
twenty bread-fruit. The bread-fruit we , bought at a; very
dear rate, but his excellency fold us a pig for a glafs bottle,
which he preferred to every thing elfe that we could give
2 him.
him. We found in his poffeffion a goofe and a turkey-cock, '769-
which, we were informed, had been left upon the ifland by ^ —/
the Dolphin: they were both enormoufly fat, and fo tame WeiJne,z8’
that they followed the Indians, who were fond of them to
excels, wherever they wént.
In a long houfedn this neighbourhood, we faw what was
altogether new to us. At One end o f it, faflened to a femi-
circular board, hung fifteen human jaw-bones ; they appeared
to bé frefh, and there was not one of them that
wanted a Angle tooth. A fight fo extraordinary, ftrongly excited
our curiofity, and we made many enquiries about i t :
but at this time could get no information, for the people
either could not, or would not underftand us.
When we left this place, the Chief, Mathiabo, defired leave
to accompany us, which was readily granted. He continued
with us the.remainder- of the day, and proved very ufeful,
by piloting us over the fhoals, In the evening, we opened
the bay on the north-weft fide of the ifland, which anfwéred
to that on the fouth-eaft, fo as at the ifthmus, or carrying-
place, .almoft to interfedl the ifland, as I have obferved
before ; and when we had coafted about two-thirds of it, we
determined to go on fhore for the night. We faw a large
houfe at fome diftance, which, Mathiabo informed us, belonged
to one of his friends; and foon after feveral canoes
came off to meet us, having on board fome very handfome
women, who, by their behaviour, feemed to have been fent
to entice us on fhore. As we had before refolved to take up
our refidence here for the night, little invitation was necef-
fary. We found that the houfe belonged to the Chief of the
diftrifl, whofe name was WivERotr.:, he received us in a very
friendly manner; and ordered his people to aflift us in
drefling our provifion, of which we had now got a tolerable
flock*