172 COOK S SECOND VOYAGE SEPT. 



no unwelcome thing. I learnt that my old friend 

 Oree, chief of the isle, was still living, and that he 

 was hastening to this part to see me. 



Early next morning, Lieutenant Pickersgill sailed 

 with the cutter, on a trading party, toward the south 

 end of the isle. I also sent another trading party on 

 shore near the ships, with which I went myself, to see 

 that it was properly conducted at the first setting out, 

 a very necessary point to be attended to. Every thing 

 being settled to my mind, I went, accompanied by 

 Captain Furneaux and Mr. Forster, to pay my first 

 visit to Oree, who, 1 was told, was waiting for me. 

 We were conducted to the place by one of the natives ; 

 but were not permitted to go out of our boat, till we 

 had gone through some part of the following cere- 

 mony, usually performed at this isle, on such like 

 occasions. The boat, in which we were desired to 

 remain, being landed before the chief's house, that 

 stood close to the shore, five young plantain trees, 

 which are their emblems of peace, were brought on 

 board separately, and with some ceremony. Three 

 young pigs, with their ears ornamented with cocoa- 

 nut fibres, accompanied the first three ; and a dog, 

 the fourth. Each had its particular name and pur- 

 pose, rather too mysterious for us to understand. 

 Lastly, the chief sent to me the inscription engraved 

 on a small piece of pewter, which I left with him in 

 July, 1769. It was in the same bag I had made for 

 it, together with a piece of counterfeit English coin, 

 and a few beads, put in at the same time ; which 

 shows how well he had taken care of the whole. 

 When they had made an end of putting into the boat 

 the things just mentioned, our guide, who still re- 

 mained with us, desired us to decorate three young 

 plantain trees with looking-glasses, nails, medals, 

 beads, &c. &c. This being accordingly done, we 

 landed with these in our hands, and were conducted 

 towards the chief, through the multitude ; they 

 making a lane, as it were, for us to pass through. We 



