244 cook's SECOND VOYAGE NOV. 



finding something hid in it. When we returned 

 from the hill, we found a number of them collected 

 round our boat. After some exchanges, and making 

 them some presents, we embarked, in order to return 

 on board, and in our way visited others of the in- 

 habitants, by whom we were kindly received. 



Our friends the natives employed themselves on 

 the 17th in fishing in our neighbourhood, and, as 

 fast as they caught the fish, came and disposed of 

 them to us, insomuch that we had more than we 

 could make use of. From this day to the 22d nothing 

 remarkable happened, and we were occupied in get- 

 ting every thing in readiness to put to sea, being 

 resolved to wait no longer than the assigned time for 

 the Adventure. 



The winds were between the south and west, 

 stormy with rain till the 22d, when the weather be- 

 came settled, clear, and pleasant. Very early in the 

 morning we were visited by a number of the natives, 

 in four or five canoes, very few of whom we had 

 seen before. They brought with them various arti- 

 cles (curiosities) which they exchanged for Ota- 

 heitean cloth, &c. At first the exchanges were very 

 much in our favour, till an old man, who was no 

 stranger to us, came and assisted his countrymen 

 , with his advice, which in a moment turned the trade 

 above a thousand per cent, against us. 



After these people were gone, I took four hogs 

 (that is three sows and one boar), two cocks and two 

 hens, which I landed in the bottom of the West Bay, 

 carrying them a little way into the woods, where we 

 left them with as much food as would serve them ten 

 or twelve days. This was done with a view of keep- 

 ing them in the woods, lest they should come down 

 to the shore in search of food and be discovered by 

 the natives ; which, however, seemed not probable, 

 as this place had never been frequented by them, 

 nor were any traces of them to be seen near it. We 

 also left some cocks and hens in the woods in Ship 

 Cove, but these will have a chance of falling into the 



