177^. ROUND THE WORLD. 131 



heard the howling of dogs, and people hallooing on 

 the east shore. 



The two following days were employed in clearing 

 a place on Motuara Island for erecting our tents for 

 the sick (having then several on board much afflicted 

 with the scurvy), the sailmakers and coopers. On 

 the top of the island was a post, erected by the 

 Endeavour's people, with her name and time of 

 departure on it. 



On the 9th j. we were visited by three canoes with 

 about sixteen of the natives : and to induce them to 

 bring us fish and other provisions, we gave them se- 

 veral things, with which they seemed highly pleased. 

 One of our young gentlemen seeing something wrapt 

 up in a better manner than common, had the curi- 

 osity to examine what it was ; and to his great sur- 

 prise found it to be the head of a man lately killed. 

 They were very apprehensive of its being forced 

 from them ; and particularly the man who seemed 

 most interested in it, whose very flesh crept on his 

 bones, for fear of being punished by us, as Captain 

 Cook had expressed his great abhorrence of this un- 

 natural act. They used every method to conceal the 

 head, by shifting it from one to another ; and by 

 signs endeavouring to convince us, that there was no 

 such thing amongst them, though we had seen it but 

 a few minutes before. They then took their leave of 

 us, and went on shore. 



They frequently mentioned Tupia, which was the 

 name of the native of George's Island (or Otaheite,) 

 brought here by the Endeavour, and who died at 

 Batavia \ and when we told them he was dead, some 

 of them seemed to be very much concerned, and as 

 well as we could understand them, wanted to know 

 whether we killed him, or if he died a natural 

 death. By these questions, they are the same tribe 

 Captain Cook saw. In the afternoon, they returned 

 again with fish and fern roots, which they sold for 



k % 



