142 cook's SECOND VOYAGE JUNE 



ations, I had little to fear ; having two good ships 

 well provided, and healthy crews. Where then could 

 I spend my time better ? If I did nothing more,- 1 

 was at least in hopes of being able to point out to 

 posterity, that these seas may be navigated, and that 

 it is practicable to go on discoveries, even in the very 

 depth of winter. 



During- our stay in the sound, I had observed that 

 this second visit made to this country, had not 

 mended the morals of the natives of either sex. I had 

 always looked upon the females of New Zealand to 

 be more chaste than the generality of Indian women. 

 Whatever favours a few of them might have granted 

 to the people in the Endeavour, it was generally 

 done in a private manner, and the men did not seem 

 to interest themselves much in it; but now I was told 

 they were the chief promoters of a shameful traffic, 

 and that, for a spike nail, or any other thing they 

 value, they would oblige the women to prostitute 

 themselves, whether they would or no ; and even 

 without any regard to that privacy which decency 

 required. 



During our stay here Mr. Wales lost no oppor- 

 tunity to observe equal altitudes of the sun, for 

 obtaining the rates of the watches. The result of his 

 labours proved that Mr. Kendal's was gaining 

 9", 5 per day, and Mr, Arnold's losing 94", 158 per 

 day, on mean time. 



