494 cook's voyage to dec. 



round, I did not wholly give up the idea of weather- 

 ing it ; and therefore continued to ply. 



On the 20th, at noon, this south-east point bore 

 south, three leagues distant ; the snowy hills west- 

 north-west ; and we were about four miles from the 

 nearest shore. In the afternoon, some of the na- 

 tives came in their canoes, bringing with them a 

 few pigs and plantains. The latter were very ac- 

 ceptable, having had no vegetables for some days ; 

 but the supply we now received was so inconsider- 

 able, being barely sufficient for one day, that 1 stood 

 in again tiie next morning, till within three or four 

 miles of the land, where we were met by a number 

 of canoes, laden with provisions. We brought to, 

 and continued trading with the people in them, till 

 four in the afternoon ; when, having got a pretty 

 good supply, we made sail, and stretched off to the 

 northward. 



I had never met with a behaviour so free from re- 

 serve and suspicion, in my intercourse with any tribes 

 of savages, as we experienced in the people of this 

 island. It was very common for them to send up 

 into the ship the several articles they brought off for 

 barter ; afterward, they would come in themselves, 

 and make their bargains on the quarter-deck. The 

 people of Otaheite, even after our repeated visits, do 

 not care to put so much confidence in us. I infer 

 from this, that those of Owhyhee must be more 

 faithful in their dealings with one another, than the 

 inhabitants of Otaheite are. For if little faith were 

 observed amongst themselves, they would not be so 

 ready to trust strangers. It is also to be observed, to 

 their honour, that they had never once attempted to 

 cheat us in exchanges, nor to commit a theft. They 

 understand trading as well as most people ; and 

 seemed to comprehend clearly the reason of our ply* 

 ing upon the coast. For, though they brought on 

 provisions in great plenty, particularly pigs, yet they 

 kept up their price ; and, rather than dispose of 



