fpicuous part of the thip; and they were accordingly ftuck amongst the rigging, at which they teftified their approbation. Their cargoes confifted of cocoa-nuts, bananas, bread-fruit, apples, and figs, which were very acceptable to the crew, and were readily purchased.

They lay off and on all night, and in the morning of the 13th they entered Port Royal Harbour, in the Island of Otaheite, and anchored within half a mile of the thore. A great number of the natives immediately came off in their canoes, and bartered their commodities for beads and other trinkets.

An elderly man, named Owhaw, who was known to Mr. Gore and others, who had vifited this ifland with Captain Wallis, came on board; and as he was confidered an useful man, the captain endeavoured to gratify all his enquiries. Captain Cook now drew up feveral neceffary rules for the regulation of traffic with the inhabitants, and ordered that they fhould be punctually obferved.

When the fhip was properly fecured, the captain went on fhore with Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, a party under arms, and their friend the old Indian. They were received on fhore by fome hundreds of the natives, who were ftruck with fuch awe, that the first who approached crept almoft upon his hands and knees. He alfo prefented to them branches of trees, the usual fymbol of peace. This fymbol was received, on the part of the English gentlemen, with demonftrations of fatisfaction and friendship.

They were conducted by the old Indian, accompanied by his countrymen, towards the place where the Dolphin had watered.

D 3

Here, the

ground

ground being cleared, the chiefs of the natives threw down their boughs, and the captain and his companions followed the example, after having drawn up the marines, who, marching in order, dropped their branches upon those of the Indians. When they came to the watering place, the Indians intimated that they had their permiffion to occupy that ground, but it was not fuited to their purpose. In the courfe of this walk, and a circuit through the woods, the Indians had got rid of their timidity, and became familiarized.

The whole circuit was near four miles, through groves, confifting of trees of cocoa-nuts and breadfruit; beneath which trees were the habitations of the natives, confifting of only a roof, destitute of walls. The bread-fruit is about the fize of the horfe-chefnut; and the fruit is not unlike the cantaloupe melon in appearance. It is fomewhat of the confiftency of new bread, and is roafted before it is eaten.

Next morning, before they left the hip, feveral canoes came about her, filled with people, whofe dress denoted them of the fuperior clafs: two of these came on board, and each of them fixed upon a friend; one of them chofe Mr. Banks, and the other Captain Cook. The ceremony confifted of taking off their clothes in great part, and putting them upon their adopted friends. This compliment was returned, by prefenting them fome trinkets. They then made figns for thefe gentlemen to go with them to the place of their abode; and the captain being defirous of meeting with a more convenient harbour, and knowing more of the people, readily affented.

Accord.

Accordingly the captain, Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, with the Indians and other friends, got into two boats. About three miles diftance they landed, among feveral hundreds of the natives, who conducted them to a large houfe. Upon their entrance they faw a middle aged man, named Tootahah, who, as foon as they were feated, ordered a cock and hen to be produced, which he prefented to Mr. Banks and the captain, as well as a piece of perfumed cloth; which compliment was returned by a prefent from Mr. Banks. They were then conducted with great civility to feveral large houfes, conftructed in the fame manner as thofe already defcribed; the ladies, fo far from thunning, invited, and even preffed them to be feated. Whilft they were afterwards walking along the fhore, they met, accompanied by a great number of natives, another chief, named Tubora Tumaida, with whom they fettled a treaty of peace, in the manner before described. Tubora Tumaida intimated, he had provifions for them, if they chose to eat, and they accordingly dined heartily upon bread-fruit, plantains, and fish.

In the course of this vifit, Dr. Solander having difcovered that he had loft an opera glafs, he complained to the chief, and interrupted the convivial party. This complaint was enforced by Mr. Banks's ftarting up and striking the butt end of his mutket on the ground, which alarmed the Indians fo much that they all precipitately ran out of the houfe, except the chief, and a few others of the fuperior class.

The chief appeared much concerned at this accident, and gave them to understand, with an appearance of great probity, that he would en

deavour

deavour if poffible to have the glafs recovered; but that if this could not be done, he would make the doctor compenfation, by giving him as much new cloth, as thould be thought equal to its value. The cafe, however, was in a little time brought, and the glass itself foon after. After this adventure was amicably terminated, they returned to the fhip about fix o'clock in the evening.

Saturday the 15th, the captain, attended by Mr. Banks and fome of the other gentlemen, went afhore to fix on a proper fpot to erect a fmall fort for their defence during their stay on the island; and the ground was accordingly marked out for that purpose, a great number of the natives looking on all the while, and behaving in the most peaceable and friendly manner.

Mr. Banks having gone a thooting in the woods, fome marines and a petty officer were appointed to guard the tent in the interim; while feveral of the natives accompanied the gentlemen in this excurfion. Before this party had gone far they were alarmed by the discharge of two pieces, fired by the tent-guard. Upon their return tó the tent, it appeared, that an Indian had taken an opportunity to fnatch away one of the fentinel's mufkets; whereupon a young midshipman, under whose command the party was, very imprudently ordered the marines to fire, which they did immediately amongst the thickeft of the fugitive Indians, feveral of whom were wounded; but as the criminal did not fall, they pursued and fhot him dead.

When Mr. Banks heard of the affair, he was greatly difpleafed with the guard, and he ufed his utmost endeavours to accommodate the differ

ence;

ence; and through the mediation of an old man, prevailed on many of the natives to come over to them, bringing plantain-trees, their ufual fignal of peace, and clapping their hands in their breasts, they cried Tyau, which fignifies friendship.

Few of the natives, however, appeared next morning upon the beach; and not one of them came on board. From hence Mr. Banks and the other gentlemen concluded, that their apprehenfions were not entirely removed, more especially as even owhaw had forfaken them. The captain, in confequence of thefe difagreeable appearances, brought the ship nearer to fhore, and moored her fo as to make her broad-fide bear on the fpot which had been marked for erecting the fort. In the evening he landed with fome of the gentlemen, when the Indians affembled round them, and they trafficked together as before.

The fort began to be erected on the 18th. Some of the company were employed in throwing up intrenchments, whilft others were occupied in cutting fafcines and pickets, which the Indians of their own accord cheerfully affifted in bringing from the woods. This day the natives brought down fuch quantities of bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts, that it was neceffary to reject them, and to intimate to them, that the company would not want any for two days. Beads were trafficked this day for every thing.

Mr. Monkhoufe, the furgeon, in his evening walk, faw the body of the man who had been shot at the tent. It was depofited in a shed, close to the house where he had refided when alive. The corpfe was placed on a bier, the frame of which was wood, with a matted bottom, fupported by posts about five feet high. The corpfe

was