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at this preferrence given to her rival. This whimfical scene was interrupted by an event of a more ferious nature; Dr. Solander having miffed his opera glafs, a complaint was made to the chief, which interrupted the convivial party. The complaint was inforced by Mr. Banks's ftarting up and ftriking the but-end of his mufquet against the ground, which ftruck the Indians with such a panic, that all of them ran precipitately out of the houfe, except the chief and a few others of the fuperior class. That no difadvantageous notions might be entertained of them on account of this circumftance, the chief obferved, with an air of great probity, that the place which the Doctor had mentioned on this occafion, was not within his district, but he would fend to the chief of it, and endeavour to recover it, adding, that if this could not be done, he would make the Doctor compenfation, by giving him as much new cloth as fhould be thought equal to the. value. The cafe however was brought in a little time, and the glafs itself foon after. After this adventure was amicably terminated, we returned to the fhip about fix in the evening.

On Saturday the 15th, in the morning, feveral of the chiefs came on board, bringing with them hogs, and other refreshments, in exchange, for which they received linen, beads, and other trinkets; but fome of them took the liberty of ftealing the lightening chain. This day the captain, attended by Mr. Banks, and fome of the other gentlemen went on fhore, to fix on a proper fpot to erect a fort for their defence, during their stay on the ifland, 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 and his friends having feen few hogs and poultry in their walks, they fufpected that they had been driven up the country; for which reafon they determined to penetrate into the woods, the tent be

ing guarded by a petty officer, and a party of marines. On this excurfion several of the the natives accompanied the English. While the party were on their march, they were alarmed by the difcharge of two pieces fired by the guard of the tent. Owhaw having now called together the captain's party, difperfed all the Indians, except three, who in token of their fidelity broke branches of trees, according to their custom, and whom it was thought proper to retain. When they returned to the tent, they found that an Indian having fnatched away one of the centinel's muskets, a young midshipman, who commanded the party, was fo imprudent as to give the marines order to fire, which were obeyed, and many of the natives were wounded; but this did not fatisfy them, as the offender had not fallen, they therefore purfued him and revenged the theft by his death. This action, which was equally incenfiftent with policy and humanity, could not but be very difpleafing to Mr. Banks; but as what had paffed could not be recalled, nothing remained but to endeavour to accommodate matters with the Indians. Accordingly he croffed the river, where he met an old man, through whofe mediation feveral of the natives were prevailed to come over to them, and to give the ufual tokens of friendship,

Mr. Banks on the 17th, had the misfortune to lofe Mr. Buchan. The fame day they received a vifit from Tubourai Tamaide, and Tootahah. They brought with them fome plantain branches, and till these were received, they would not venture on board. They bartered fome bread-fruit and a hog, which was ready dreffed, for nails, with the English.

Tubourai Tamaide vifited Mr. Banks at his tent on Wednesday the 19th, and brought with him his wife and family. He afterwards afked that gentleman to accompany him to the woods. On their ar rival at a place where he fometime refded, he prefented

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fented his guests with two garments, one of which was of red cloth, and the other was made of fine matting; having thus clothed Mr. Banks, he conducted him to the fhip, and flaid to dinner with his wife and fon.

On the 22d we were entertained by fome of the musicians of the country, who performing on an inftrument fomewhat refembling a German flute, but the performer blew through his noftrill inftead of his mouth, and others accompanied this inftrument, finging only one tune.

On the 24th Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander made an excurfion into the country, and found it level and fertile along the thore, for about two miles to the eaft ward; after which the hills reached quite to the water's edge; and farther on they ran out into the fca. Having paffed thefe hills, which continued about three miles, we came to an extenfive plain, abounding with good habitations, and the people feemed to enjoy a confiderable fhare of property. The place was rendered ftill more agreeable by a wide river iffuing from a valley, and which watered it. We croffed this river, when perceiving the country to be barren, we refolved to return.

On the 25th, in the evening, feveral of the gentlemen's knives were miffing, Mr. Banks who had loft his among the reft, accufed Tubourai Tamaide of having taken it, which as he was innocent, occafioned him a great deal of unmerited anxiety. He made figns, while the tears fiarted from his eyes, that if ever he had been guilty of fuch a theft as was imputed to him, he would fuffer his throat to becut. But though he was innocent, it was plain from many inftances, that the natives of this ifland were very much addicted to thieving; though Mr. Banks's fervant had miflaid the knive in queflion, yet the reft were produced in a rag by one of the natives.

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When the guns on the 26th, which were fix fwivels, had been mounted on the fort, the Indians feemed to be in great trouble, and feveral of the fishermen removed, fearing, notwithstanding all the marks of friendship, which had been fhewn to them by our people, they fhould, in a few days, be fired at from the fort: yet the next day, being the 27th, Tubourai Tamaide came with three women, and a friend of his, who was a remarkable glutton, and after dinner returned to his own house in the wood. In a fhort time after he came back to complain to Mr. Banks, of a butcher, who had threatned to cut his wife's throat, becaufe fhe would not barter a flone hatchet for a nail. It appearing clearly that the offender had infringed one of the rules enjoined by the captain for trading with the natives, he was flogged on board in their fight.

On the 28th, Terapo, one of Tubourai Tamaide's female attendants, came down to the fort in the greatef affliction, the tears guishing from her eyes. Mr. Banks feeing her full of lamentation and forrow, infifted upon knowing the caufe, but inftead of anfwering, theftruck herself feveral times with a fhark's tooth, upon her head, till an effufion of blood followed, while her dift refs was difregarded, by feveral other Indians, who continued laughing and talking with the utmost unconcern. After this, the gathered up fome pieces of cloth, which fhe had thrown down to catch the blood, and threw them into the fea, as if he wished to prevent the leaft trace or mark of her abfurd behaviour. She then bathed in the river, and with remarkable cheerfulness, returned to the tent, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

Mr. Molineux, mafter of the Endeavour, seeing a woman whose name was Obereà, he declared the was the fame perfon, whom he judged to be the queen of the island when he was there with Capt. Wallis.

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Wallis. The eyes of every one were now fixed on her, of whom fo much had been faid by the crew of the Dolphin. With regard to her perfon, fhe was tall and rather large made; fhe was about forty years of age, her skin white, and her eyes had great expreffion in them: fhe had been handfome, but her beauty was now upon the decline. Many prefents were made her, particularly a child's doll, which the viewed very attentively. Capt. Cook accompanied her on fhore, and when we'landed, the prefented him with a hog and fome plantains, in return for his prefents, which were carried to the fort in proceffion, Oberca and the Captain bringing up the rear. In the way they met Tootahah, who no fooner faw the doll, than he discovered ftrong fymptoms of jealoufy, nor could any method be found of conciliating his friendship, but that of complimenting with a baby alfo. A doll was now preferable to a hatchet, but a very fhort time taught the Indians the fuperior value of iron. which on account of its ufefulness, prevailed over every other confideration.

On the 29th, near noon, Mr. Banks paid a vifit to Oberca, but was informed that fhe was afleep under the awning of her canoe; and, going to call her up, was surprised at finding her in bed with a young fellow, a discovery which caufed him to retire rather difconcerted; but he foon underflood that a commerce of this fort was by no means confidered as fcandalous, the ladies frequently courting the men to amorous dalliance, of which they made no fecret; and as to young Obadee, found in bed with the queen, he was well known by every one to be the object of her lafcivious hours. The queen foon got up, and dreffed herfelf to wait upon Mr. Banks, and, after having, as a token of her particular regard, put on him a fuit of fine cloth, they proceeded together to the tents. In the evening, Mr. Banks vifited Tubourai Tamaide. He was aftenifhed to

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