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1769.

July.

old ones having been totally deftroyed by the worms, Tupia faid, he would go once more on fhore, and make a fignal for the boat to fetch Wednef, 12. him off in the evening. He went accordingly, and took with him a miniature picture of Mr. Banks's, to fhew his friends, and several little things to give them as parting presents.

After dinner, Mr. Banks being defirous to procure a drawing of the Morai belonging to Tootahah at Eparré, I attended him thither, accompanied by Dr. Solander, in the pinnace. As foon as we landed, many of our friends came to meet us, though fome abfented themfelves in refentment of what had happened the day before. We immediately proceeded to Tootahah's house, where we were joined by Oberea, with several others who had not come out to meet us, and a perfect reconciliation was foon brought about; in confequence of which they promised to vifit us early the next day, to take a laft farewel of us, as we told them we should certainly set fail in the afternoon. At this place also we found Tupia, who returned with us, and slept this night on board the ship for the first time.

On the next morning, Thursday the 13th of Thursd. 13. July, the ship was very early crowded with our friends, and furrounded by a multitude of canoes, which were filled with the natives of an inferior clafs. Between eleven and twelve we weighed anchor, and as foon as the fhip was

under

1769. July.

Thurfd. 13.

under fail, the Indians on board took their leaves, and wept, with a decent and filent forrow, in which there was fomething very striking and tender: the people in the canoes, on the contrary, feemed to vie with each other in the loudness of their lamentations, which we confidered rather as affectation than grief. Tupia fustained himself in this scene with a firmness and refolution truly admirable: he wept indeed, but the effort that he made to conceal his tears, concurred, with them, to do him honour. He fent his laft prefent, a fhirt, by Otheothea, to Potomai, Tootahah's favourite miftrefs, and then went with Mr. Banks to the maft-head, waving to the canoes as long as they continued in fight.

Thus we took leave of Otaheite, and its inhabitants, after a ftay of just three months; for much the greater part of the time we lived together in the moft cordial friendship, and a perpetual reciprocation of good offices. The accidental differences which now and then happened, could not be more fincerely regretted on their part than they were on ours: the principal caufes were fuch as neceffarily refulted from our fituation and circumstances, in conjunction with the infirmities of human nature, from our not being able perfectly to understand each other, and from the difpofition of the inhabitants to theft, which we could not at all times bear with or pre

vent. They had not, however, except in one inftance, been attended with any fatal confequence; and to that accident were owing the measures that I took to prevent others of the fame kind. I hoped indeed to have availed myfelf of the impreffion which had been made upon them by the lives that had been facrificed in their contest with the Dolphin, fo as that the intercourse between us fhould have been carried on wholly without bloodshed; and by this hope all my measures were directed during the whole of my continuance at the island, and I fincerely wish, that whoever fhall next vifit it, may be ftill more fortunate. Our traffic here was carried on with as much order as in the best regulated market in Europe. It was managed principally by Mr. Banks, who was indefatigable in procuring provision and refreshments while they were to be had; but during the latter part of our time they became scarce, partly by the increased consumption at the fort and ship, and partly by the coming on of the season in which cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit fail. All kind of fruit we purchased for beads and nails, but no nails lefs than fortypenny were current: after a very short time we could never get a pig of more than ten or twelve pounds, for less than a hatchet; because, though these people fet a high value upon spike nails, yet these being an article with which many people in the ship were provided,

1769.

July. Live Thurfd. 13

1769. July.

provided, the women found a much more easy way of procuring them than by bringing down Thurfd. 13. provifions.

The best articles for traffic here are axes, hatchets, spikes, large nails, looking-glaffes, knives, and beads, for fome of which, every thing that the natives have may be procured. They are indeed fond of fine linen cloth, both white and printed; but an axe worth half a crown, will fetch more than a piece of cloth worth twenty fhillings.

CHAP.

CHA P. XVII.

A particular Defcription of the Ifland; its
Produce and Inhabitants; their Drefs,
Habitations, Food, domeftic Life and
Amusements.

W

E found the longitude of Port-Royal 1769. bay, in this ifland, as fettled by Captain Wallis, who difcovered it on the 9th of June 1767, to be within half a degree of the truth. We found Point Venus, the northern extremity of the island, and the eastern point of the bay, to lie in the longitude of 149° 13', this being the mean refult of a great number of observations made upon the spot. The island is furrounded by a reef of coral rock, which forms several excellent bays and harbours, fome of which have been particularly defcribed, where there is room and depth of water for any number of the largest fhips. Port-Royal bay, called by the natives Matavai, which is not inferior to any in Otaheite, may easily be known by a very high mountain in the middle of the ifland, which bears due fouth from Point VeTo fail into it, either keep the weft point of the reef that lies before Point Venus, clofe

nus.

VOL. III.

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