252 cook's first voyage july^ 



remained here, they would certainly come down to- 

 morrow, and fight us. We determined, therefore, 

 to go on shore without delay, while the day was 

 our own. 



1 landed in company with Mr. Banks, Dr. Solan- 

 der, and the other gentlemen, Tupia being also of 

 the party. He introduced us by repeating the cere- 

 monies which he had performed at Huaheine, after 

 which I hoisted an English jack, and took possession 

 of this and the three neighbouring islands, Huaheine, 

 Otaha, and Bolabola, which were all in sight, in the 

 name of his Britannic Majesty. After this, we took 

 a walk to a great Morai, called Tapodeboatea. We 

 found it very different from those of Otaheite ; for it 

 consisted only of four walls, about eight feet high, 

 of coral stones, some of which were of an immense 

 size, inclosing an area of about five-and-twenty yards 

 square, which was filled up with smaller stones : upon 

 the top of it many planks were set up on end, which 

 were carved in their whole length : at a little distance 

 we found an altar, or Ewhatta, upon which lay the 

 last oblation or sacrifice, a hog of about eighty pounds 

 weight, which had been offered whole, and very 

 nicely roasted. Here were also four or five Ewharre- 

 no-Eatua, or houses of God, to which carriage poles 

 were fitted, like that which we had seen at Huaheine. 

 One of these Mr. Banks examined by putting his 

 hand into it, and found a parcel about five feet long 

 and one thick, wrapped up in mats : he broke a way 

 through several of these mats with his fingers, but 

 at length came to one which was made of the fibres 

 of the cocoa-nut, so firmly plaited together that he 

 found it impossible to tear it, and therefore was 

 forced to desist; especially as he perceived, that 

 what he had done already gave great offence to our 

 new friends. From hence we went to a long house, 

 not far distant, where, among rolls of cloth, and se- 

 veral other things, we saw the model of a canoe, 

 about three feet long, to which were tied eight hu- 



