iQ COOK/S VOYAGE TO FEB, 



Upon the dry sand, about the village, grew a plant 

 that we had never seen in these seas, of the size of a 

 common thistle, and prickly, like that ; but bearing 

 a fine flower, almost resembling a white poppy. This, 

 with another small one, were the only uncommon 

 plants, which our short excursion gave us an oppor- 

 tunity of observing. 



The scarlet birds, already described, which were 

 brought for sale, were never met with alive ; but we 

 saw a single small one, about the size of a canary- 

 bird, of a deep crimson colour ; a large owl ; two 

 large brown hawks, or kites ; and a wild duck. The 

 natives mentioned the names of several other birds ; 

 amongst which we knew the atoo % or blueish heron ; 

 and the torata, a sort of whimbrel, which are known 

 by the same names at Otaheite ; and it is probable 

 that there are a great many sorts, judging by the 

 quantity of fine yellow, green, and very small, velvet- 

 like, black feathers used upon the cloaks, and other 

 ornaments, worn by the inhabitants. 



Fish, and other marine productions were, to ap- 

 pearance, not various ; as, besides the small mackerel, 

 we only saw common mullets ; a sort of a dead white, 

 or chalky colour; a small, brownish rock-fish, spotted 

 with blue ; a turtle, which was penned up in a pond ; 

 and three or four sorts of fish salted. The few shell- 

 fish that we saw were chiefly converted into orna- 

 ments, though they neither had beauty nor novelty 

 to recommend them. 



The hogs, dogs, and fowls, which were the only 

 tame or domestic animals that we found here, were all 

 of the same kind that we met with at the South Pacific 

 islands. There were also small lizards ; and some 

 rats, resembling those seen at every island at which 

 we had as yet touched. 



The inhabitants are of a middling stature, firmly 

 made, with some exceptions, neither remarkable for 

 a beautiful shape, nor for striking features, which 

 rather express an openness and good-nature, than a 



