1769' ROUND THE WORLD. S47 



person, dress, language, and every other circum- 

 stance, except, if Tupia might be believed, that they 

 would not steal. 



Soon after dinner, we came to an anchor in a 

 small but excellent harbour on the west side of the 

 island, which the natives call Owharre, in eighteen 

 fathom water, clear ground, and secure from all 

 winds. I went immediately ashore, accompanied by 

 Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, Mr. Monkhouse, Tupia, 

 King Cookee, and some other of the natives who had 

 been on board ever since the morning. The mo- 

 ment we landed, Tupia stripped himself as low as 

 the waist, and desired Mr. Monkhouse to do the 

 same : he then sat down before a great number of 

 the natives, who were collected together in a large 

 house or shed ; for here, as well as at Otaheite, a 

 house consists only of a roof supported upon poles ; 

 the rest of us, by his desire, standing behind. He 

 then began a speech or prayer, which lasted about a 

 quarter of an hour, the king, who stood over against 

 him, every now and then answering in what appeared 

 to be set responses. In the course of this harangue, 

 he delivered, at different times, two handkerchiefs, a 

 black silk neckcloth, some beads, two small bunches 

 of feathers, and some plantains, as presents to their 

 Eatua, or God. In return for these, he received for 

 oilr Eatua, a hog, some young plantains, and two 

 small bunches of feathers, which he ordered to be 

 carried on board the ship. After these ceremonies, 

 which we supposed to be the ratification of a treaty 

 between us, every one was dismissed to go whither he 

 pleased ; and Tupia immediately repaired to ofier his 

 oblations at one of the Morais. 



The next morning, we went on shore again, and 

 walked up the hills, where the productions were ex- 

 actly the same as those of Otaheite, except that the 

 rocks and clay appeared to be more burnt. The 

 houses were neat, and the boat-bouses remarkably 

 large 5 one that we measured was fifty paces long, 



R 4* 



