80 cook's first voyage APRIL, 



the Group, where there was a smooth sea, and the 

 appearance of anchorage, without much surf on the 

 shore. We sounded, but we found no bottom with 

 one hundred fathom, at the distance of no more than 

 three quarters of a mile from the beach ; and I did 

 not think it prudent to go nearer. 



While this was doing, several of the inhabitants 

 assembled upon the shore, and some came out in 

 their canoes as far as the reefs, but would not pass 

 them. When we saw this, we ranged, with an easy 

 sail, along the shore ; but just as we were passing 

 the end of the island, six men, who had for some 

 time kept abreast of the ship, suddenly launched two 

 canoes with great quickness and dexterity, and three 

 of them getting into each, they put off, as we ima- 

 gined, with a design to come on board us ; the ship 

 was therefore brought to, but they, like their fellows, 

 stopped at the reef. We did not, however, immediately 

 make sail, as we observed two messengers dispatched 

 to them from the other canoes, which were of a much 

 larger size. We perceived that these messengers made 

 great expedition, wading and swimming along the 

 reef; at length they met, and the men on board the 

 canoes making no dispositions to pass the reef, after 

 having received the message, we judged that they had 

 resolved to come no farther. After waiting, therefore, 

 some little time longer, we stood off; but when we 

 were got about two or three miles from the shore, we 

 perceived some of the natives following us in a canoe 

 wath a sail. We did not, however, think it worth 

 while to wait for her, and though she had passed the 

 reef, she soon after gave over the chace. 



According to the best judgment that we could 

 form of the people when we were nearest the shore, 

 they were about our size, and well-made. They were 

 of a brown-comple:s;ion, and appeared to be naked ; 

 their hair, which was black, was confined by a fillet 

 that went round the head, and stuck out behind like 

 a bush. The greater part of them carried in their 



