204 cook's VOYAGE TO FEB. 



perior to those produced in most other countries. 

 Though the New Zealanders are fond of this root, it 

 was evident that they had not taken the trouble to 

 plant a single one (much less any other of the articles 

 which we had introduced) ; and if it were not for the 

 difficulty of clearing ground where potatoes had been 

 once planted, there would not have been any now 

 remaining. 



On the 16th, at day-break, I set out with a party 

 of men, in five boats, to collect food for our cattle. 

 Captain Clerke, and several of the officers, Omai, 

 and two of the natives, accompanied me. We pro- 

 ceeded about three leagues up the Sound, and then 

 landed on the east side, at a place where I had for- 

 merly been. Here we cut as much grass as loaded 

 the two launches. 



As we returned down the Sound, we visited Grass 

 Cove, the memorable scene of the massacre of Cap- 

 tain Furneaux's people. Here I met with my old 

 friend Pedro, who was almost continually with me 

 the last time I was in this Sound, and is mentioned 

 in my History of that Voyage. * He, and another 

 of his countrymen, received us on the beach, armed 

 with thepa-too and spear. Whether this form of re- 

 ception was a mark of their courtesy or of their fear, 

 I cannot say ; but I thought they betrayed manifest 

 signs of the latter. However, if they had any ap- 

 prehensions, a few presents soon removed them, and 

 brought down to the beach two or three more of the 

 family ; but the greatest part of them remained out 

 of sight. 



Whilst we were at this place, our curiosity prompted 

 us to inquire into the circumstances attending the 

 melancholy fate of our countrymen ; and Omai was 

 made use of as our interpreter for this purpose. Pe- 

 dro, and the rest of the natives present, answered all 

 the questions that were put to them on the subject, 



* See VoL IV. p. I45 



