284 cook's first voyage oct. 



pia, who was always upon the watch to comfort them, 

 got up, and by soothing and encouragement made 

 them not only easy but cheerful ; their cheerfulness 

 was encouraged so that they sung a song with a de- 

 gree of taste that surprised us : the tune was solemn 

 and slow, like those of our Psalms, containing many 

 notes and semi-tones. Their countenances were in- 

 telligent and expressive, and the middlemost, who 

 seemed to be about fifteen, had an openness in his 

 aspect, and an ease in his deportment, which were 

 very striking : we found that the two eldest were 

 brothers, and that their names were Taahourange 

 and Koikerange; the name of the youngest was 

 Maragovete. As we were returning to the ship, 

 after having taken these boys into the boat, we picked 

 up a large piece of pumice-stone floating upon the 

 water ; a sure sign that there either is, or has been a 

 volcano in this neighbourhood. 



In the morning, they all seemed to be cheerful, 

 and ate another enormous meal ; after this we dressed 

 them, and adorned them with bracelets, anclets, and 

 necklaces, after their own fashion, and the boat be- 

 ing hoisted out, they were told that we were going 

 to set them ashore : this produced a transport of joy ^ 

 but upon perceiving that we made towards our first 

 landing-place near the river, their countenances 

 changed, and they entreated with great earnestness 

 that they might not be set ashore at that place, be- 

 cause they said, it was inhabited by their enemies, 

 who would kill them and eat them. This was a great 

 disappointment to me ; because I hoped the report 

 and appearance of the boys would procure a favour- 

 able reception for ourselves. I had already sent an 

 officer on shore with the marines and a party of men 

 to cut wood, and I was determined to land near the 

 place ; not, however, to abandon the boys, if, when 

 we got ashore, they should be unwilling to leave us j 

 but to send a boat with them in the evening to that 

 part of the bay to which they pointed, and which 



