44 cook's voyage to march, 



resolution failing, he soon returned toward the 

 beach, where, after some time, another man joined 

 him in the canoe ; and then they both paddled 

 towards us. They stopt short, however, as if afraid 

 to approach, until Omai, who addressed them in the 

 Otaheite language, in some measure quieted their 

 apprehensions. They then came near enough to 

 take some beads and nails, which were tied to a 

 piece of wood, and thrown into the canoe. They 

 seemed afraid to touch these things, and .put the 

 piece of wood aside without untying them. This, 

 however, might arise from superstition ; for Omai 

 told us, that when they saw us offering them 

 presents, they asked something for their Eatooa, or 

 god. He also, perhaps improperly, put the question to 

 them, whether they ever ate human flesh? which they 

 answered in the negative, with a mixture of indig- 

 nation and abhorrence. One of them, whose name 

 was Mourooa, being asked how he came by a scar 

 on his forehead, told us that it was the consequence 

 of a wound he had got in fighting with the people 

 of an island which lies to the north-eastward, who 

 sometimes came to invade them. They afterward 

 took hold of a rope. Still, however, they would not 

 venture on board ; but told Omai, who understood 

 them pretty well, that their countrymen on shore 

 had given them this caution, at the same time 

 directing them to inquire, from whence our ship 

 came, and to learn the name of the captain. On 

 our part, we inquired the name of the island, which 

 they called Mangya or Mangcea ; and sometimes 

 added to it Nooe, nai, naiwa. The name of their 

 chief, they said, was Orooaeeka. 



Mourooa was lusty and well made, but not very 

 tall. His features were agreeable, and his disposi- 

 tion seemingly no less so ; for he made several droll 

 gesticulations, which indicated both good nature 

 and a share of humour. He also made others 

 which seemed of a serious kind, and repeated some 



