1787., We landed clofe by the frefh water river I mentioned' when we
. ebr“ary; firft came to anchor at this ifland, and which bore nearly North
Eaft from the fhips. Before we walked into the country, Abbenooe
took us to a place hard by, in order to fhew us what was preparing,
for our dinner. We here found fome of his fervants cleaning a
very fine hog, which he told us was to be baked, together with
fome taro; and that he hoped there would be arouarou, or, great
plenty. We affured him there would be quite fufficient for us all,
which feemed to pleafe him greatly; and he cautioned us not to
walk too far, as dinner would be ready by twelve o’clock: this he-
explained by pointing to thé fun; after which, Abbenooe left the
management of the feaft to Tyheira, as he wanted to be on board
the Ihips.
Having frequently heard our people who had been on fhore fpeak
of a village, called by the natives A Tappa, where a great number
of people were commonly employed in manufacturing cloth, curi-
ofity prompted me to walk to that place firft, as I found it was not
more than three miles diftant, fo that I could eafily get back by
Tyheira’s dinner-time. Great numbers of the inhabitants crouded
about us, when we firft landed, but our people walking different
ways, juft as fancy or inclination led them, the natives were divided
into different parties, and I was very little incommoded in my
walk. One man was particularly afliduous in rendering me any
little fervices; he not only offered to thew me the way to A Tappa,
but to attend me the whole day, for a large nail: though I fully
expeCted him to run away from me after he got his nail, which he
ftipulated to receive before we fet out, yet I determined to try him,
and at the fame time endeavoured to fecure his fidelity, by pro-
mifing him a Matano in the evening.
The country, from the place where we landed'to A Tappa; is
tolerably level, and for tht fpace of two miles, very dry. The foil ,— ,-w .
here is a light red earth, and with proper cultivation, would produce
excellent potatoes, or any thing that fuits a dry foil; but at
prefen t; it is entirely covered with long coarfe grafs : the inhabitants,
I fuppofe, finding plenty of ground near their habitations,,
more conveniently fituated for their various purpofes. So far, the
fpace from the beach to the foot of the mountains, is about two ■
miles in breadth; but from hence to A Tappa, it grows gradually
narrower, till it terminates in a long fandy point, which L have-
already obferved, is the Weft extreme of Wymoa Bay-
A Tappa is a pretty, large village; fituated behind a long row of
cocoa-nut trees, which afford the inhabitants a moft excellent Ihel-
ter from the fcorching heat of the noon-day fun. Amongft thefe:
cocoa-trees is- a good deal of wet fwampy ground, which is well
laid out in plantations o f taro and fugar-cane.
I had laid: my account in feeing their method of manufaflunrig.
cloth; but here I was miftaken. A number of our people, prompted
by the fame curiofity as myfelf, were got to A Tappa before me,,
where “ Labour ftood fufpended as we paffed.” The people flocked
eagerly about u s ; fome afking us to repofe ourfelves under the
fliady branches of trees planted about their doors ; others running
to the trees for cocoa-nuts, and prefenting them to us with every
mark of kindnefs and good-nature; in Ihort, every inhabitant of
the village was fully employed, either in relieving our wants, or.
gratifying their curiofity in looking at us.
Whilft a party of us were bufied at the door of one of thefe kind
ft rangers, I heard a rattling of ftones, as if thrown with violence ;
and