162 cook's first voyage JUtlE, 



the shore. At the southernmost part of the island, 

 the shore is again covered by a reef, which forms a 

 good harbour ; and the land about it is very fertile. 

 We made this rout partly on foot, and partly in the 

 boat : when we had walked about three miles, we ar- 

 rived at a place where we saw several large canoes, 

 and a number of people with them, whom we were 

 agreeably surprised to find were of our intimate ac- 

 quaintance. Here, with much difficulty, we pro- 

 cured some cocoa-nuts, and then embarked, taking 

 with us Tuahow, one of the Indians who had waited 

 for us at Waheatua's, and had returned the night be- 

 fore, long after it was dark. 



When we came abreast of the south-east end 

 of the island, we went ashore, by the advice of 

 our Indian guide, who told us that the country 

 was rich and good. The chief, whose name was 

 Mathiabo, soon came down to us, but seemed to be 

 a total stranger both to us and to our trade : his sub- 

 jects, however, brought us plenty of cocoa-nuts, and 

 about twenty bread-fruit. The bread-fruit we bought 

 at a very dear rate, but his excellency sold us a pig for 

 a glass-bottle, which he preferred to every thing else 

 that we could give him. We found in his possession 

 a goose and a turkey-cock, which, we were informed, 

 had been left upon the island by the Dolphin : they 

 were both enormously fat, and so tame that they fol- 

 lowed the Indians, who were fond of them to excess, 

 wherever they went. 



In a long house in this neighbourhood, we saw what 

 was altogether new to us. At one end of it, fastened 

 to a semicircular board, hung fifteen human jaw-bones : 

 they appeared to be fresh ; and there was not one of 

 them that wanted a single tooth. A sight so extraor- 

 dinary, strongly excited our curiosity, and we made 

 many enquiries about it ; but at this time could get 

 no information, for the people either could not, or 

 would not, understand us. 



