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find this chief and his family all in tears, and not being able to difcover the caufe, he foon took leave. of them, Upon his return the officers told him, that Owhaw had foretold, that the guns would be fired within four days, and as this was the eve of the third day, they were alarmed at the fituation they judged themfelves to be in. As we were apprehenfive of ill confequences from this prepoffeffion, the centinels were doubled at the fort, and we thought it neceffary to keep under arms.

On the 30th Tomio came in great hafte to our tents, and taking Mr. Banks by the arm, told him · that Tubourai Tamaide was dying, owing to fomewhat that had been given him by our people, and intreated him inftantly to go to him. Accordingly Mr. Banks went, and found the Indian very fick. He had been vomiting, and had thrown up a leaf which they faid contained fome of the poifon. Mr. Banks having examined the leaf, found it was nothing but tobacco, which the Indian had begged of fome of the fhip's company.

The matter, however, appeared in a very ferious light to Tubourai Tamaide who really concluded from the violent ficknefs he fuffered, that he had fwallowed fome deadly drug, the terror of which no doubt, contributed to make him yet more fick. While Mr. Banks was examining the leaf, he looked up to him, as if he had been just on the point of death; but when the hature of this dreadful poison was found out, he only ordered him to drink of cocoa-nut milk, which foon reftored him to health, and he was as chearful as before the accident happened.

On the ift of May, Captain Cook having produced an iron adze, which was made in imitation of the ftone ones used by the natives, fhewed it to Tootahah, as a curiofity. The latter fnatched it up and infifted on having it; and though he was offered the

choice

choice of any of the articles in the chefts which were opened before him, yet he would not accept of any thing in its flead.

May 2d, we took the aftronomical quadrant and fome of the inftruments on thore that afternoon; and to our great furprise when we wanted to make ufe of the quadrant, the next day, it was not to be found; a matter which was looked upon as the more extraordinary, as a centinel had been placed the whole night within a few yards of the place where it was depofited. A ftrict fearch was made in and about the fort, and a reward offered in order to obtain it again. But this proving fruitless, Mr. Banks, and fome other gentlemen fet out for the woods, where they thought they might get fome tidings of what was ftolen. In their way they met with Tubourai Tamaide, and fome of the 'natives. This chief was made to understand by figns, that they had loft the quadrant, and that as fome of his countrymen must have taken it, they infifted upon being fhewn the place where it was concealed. Having proceeded a few miles together, after fome enquiry, Tuborai Tamaide was informed who the thief was, and it was found that he was then at a place about four miles diftant. As they had no arms but a brace of piftols, not caring to trufl themselves fo far from the fort, a meffage was dispatched to Capt. Cook, requesting him to fend out a party to fupport them. The Captain accordingly fet out with a party properly armed, after having laid an embargo upon all the canoes in the bay.

In the mean time, Mr. Banks and Mr. Green proceeded on their way, and at the place which had been mentioned, were met by one of Tubourai Tamaide's own people, bringing with him part of the quadrant; the cafe and the other part of the inftrument were recovered foon afterwards, when it was found that it had received no real injury, though it had been taken to pieces. When

When they returned in the evening, they were much furprised to find Tootahah under confinement in the fort, while a cloud of the natives furrounded the gate, difcovering marks of the greatest anxiety for the fate of their chief. The occafion of this detention originated from the conduct of the Indians: alarmed at Capt. Cook's having gone up the country with an armed party, most of the natives left the fort that evening, and one of the canoes attempted to quit the bay. The lieutenant who commanded on board the ship, having it in charge not to fuffer any canoe to depart, fent a boat to detain her, but the no fooner approached, than the Indians jumped into the fea. Tootahah being of the number, was taken up, and fent by the lieutenant to the officer that commanded at the fort, who concluded he should do right to detain him prifoner, while the poor chief thought of nothing but being put to death, till Capt. Cook caufed him to be returned, to the great joy of his countrymen.

On the 3d provifions were extremely fcarce, as the markets continued to be ill fupplied on the account already mentioned; and it was not without fome difficulty, that Mr. Banks got a few bafkets of bread-fruit. However, fome time afterwards, having produced fome nails to barter for provisions, we got twenty cocoa-nuts and fome bread-fruit, for one of the fmalleft fize, fo that we foon had plenty of thefe articles, though no hogs.

On the roth in the forenoon, Oberca paid us a vifit, accompanied by Obadee, prefenting us with a hog and fome bread-fruit. This was the firft visit we had received from this lady, fince the lofs of our quadrant, and the confinement of Tootahah. By this time our forge was fet up, which afforded a new fubject of admiration to the Indians, and to Capt. Cook an additional opportunity of confering obligations on them, by permitting the fmith, to convert

the

the old iron, which they were fuppofed to have procured from the Dolphin into different kinds of tools. Oberea produced as much iron as would have made for her another axe; this fhe requested to have done; but the lady could not be gratified in this particular, upon which he brought a broken axe, defiring it might be mended. The axe was mended, and to all appearance fhe was .content.

On the 11th we fowed, in ground properly prepared, feeds of melons, and other plants, but none of them came up except muftard. Mr. Banks thought the feeds were fpoiled by a total exclufion of fresh air, they having all been put into fmall bottles, and fealed up with rofin.

CHA P. IV

An extraordinary vifit--Divine fervice attended by the natives of Otaheite--- An uncommon fight---Tubourai Tamaide found guilty of theft--A relation of what happened at the fort when obferving the Tranfit of Venus A defcription of an Indian funeral-Preparations made for leaving the ifland

An account of their departure, and the behaviour of the natives on this occafion.

N the 12thof this month [May] an uncommon ceremony was performed by fome of the na

tives. As Mr. Banks was fitting in his boat, trading with them as ufual, fome ladies, who where strangers, advanced in proceffion towards him. The reft of the Indians on each fide gave way, and formed a lane for the visitors to pafs, who coming up to Mr. Banks, prefented him with fome parrots feathers, and various kinds of plants, Tupid, who ftood by Mr. Banks, acted as his mafter of the ceremonies, and receiving the branches, which were brought at fix different times, laid don in the boat. After this, fome large bundles of cloth were brought, confifting of nine pieces, divided into three parcels, one of the women,

called

called Oorattooa, who appeared to be the principal, ftepping upon one of them, pulled up her clothes as high as her waift, and then, with an air of unaffected fimplicity, turned round three times. This ceremony the repeated, with fimilar circumftances, on the other two parcels of cloth: and the whole being then prefented to Mr. Banks, the ladies went and faluted him; in return for which extraordinary favours, he made them fuch prefents as he thought would beft please them.

On Sunday the 14th, divine service was performed at the fort. Tubourai Tamaide and his wife were prefent, but though they behaved with much decency, they made no enquiries with refpect to the ceremonies. The day thus begun with acts of devotion, but concluded with thofe of lewdnefs exhibited among the natives by way of entertainment. Among the reft, a young fellow lay publicly with a girl about 12 years of age, without the leaft fenfe of impropriety or indecency. Oberea, and fome ladies of the first rank in the country were fpectators, who even gave inftructions to the girl how to perform her part, though, young as fhe was, feemed unnecessary.

On Monday the 15th, Tubourai Tamaide was detected in having committed a theft. Mr. Banks had a good opinion of this chief, but, when his honefty was put to the test, a basket of nails, left in the corner of the tent, proved irrefiftible. He confeffed the fact of having ftolen four nails, but when reftitution was demanded, Tamaide faid the nails were at Eparre. High words paffed on the occafion, and in the end, the Indian produced one of the nails, and was to be forgiven on restoring the reft; but his virtue was not equal to the task, and he withdrew himself, as usual, when he had committed any offence.

On the 25th, Mr. Banks seeing Tubourai Tamaide and his wife Tomio, at the tent for the firft time fince the former had been detected in ftealing the nails, he endeavoured to perfuade him to reflore them, but in

E

vain.

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