216 COOK'S VOYAGE TO FEB. 



part of the day, on account of his hair being cut; 

 though every method was tried to induce him to 

 break his resolution, and he was tempted with the 

 offer of such victuals as he was known to esteem the 

 most. He said, if he ate any thing that day, the 

 Eatooa would kill him. However, towards evening, 

 the cravings of nature got the better of the precepts 

 of his religion, and he ate, though but sparingly. I 

 had often conjectured, before this, that they had 

 some superstitious notions about their hair, having 

 frequently observed quantities of it tied to the 

 branches of trees near some of their habitations; but 

 what these notions are, I never could learn. 



Notwithstanding the divided and hostile state in 

 which the New Zealanders live, travelling strangers, 

 who come with no ill design, are well received and 

 entertained during their stay; which, however, it is 

 expected, will be no longer than is requisite to 

 transact the business they come upon. Thus it is 

 that a trade for paenammoo, or green talc, is carried 

 on throughout the whole northern island. For they 

 tell us, that there is none of this stone to be found, 

 but at a place which bears its name, somewhere 

 about the head of Queen Charlotte's Sound, and 

 not above one or two days' journey, at most, from 

 the station of our ships. I regretted much that I 

 could not spare time sufficient for paying a visit to 

 the place; as we were told a hundred fabulous 

 stories about this stone, not one of which carried 

 with it the least probability of truth, though some 

 of their most sensible men would have us believe 

 them. One of these stories is, that this stone is 

 originally a fish", which they strike with a gig in 

 the water, tie a rope to it, and drag it to the shore, 

 to which they fasten it, and it afterward becomes 

 stone. As they all agree, that it is fished out of a 

 large lake, or collection of waters, the most probable 

 conjecture is, that it is brought from the mountains, 

 and deposited in the water, by the torrents. This 



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