332 cook's first voyage nov. 



sea, wliicli at high water flowed through the bottom 

 of it : the whole summit of the rock above the arch 

 was fenced round after their manner ; but the area 

 was not large enough to contain more than five or six 

 houses: it was accessible only by one very narrow 

 and steep path, by which the inhabitants, at our 

 approach, came down, and invited us into the place; 

 but we refused, intending to visit a much more con- 

 siderable fort of the same kind at about a mile's 

 distance. We made some presents however to the 

 women, and in the mean time we saw the inhabitants 

 of the town which we were going to, coming towards 

 us in a body, men, women, and children, to the 

 number of about one hundred: when they came near 

 enough to be heard, they waved their hands and 

 called out Horomai; after which they sat down among 

 the bushes near the beach ; these ceremonies we were 

 told were certain signs of their friendly disposition. 

 We advanced to the place where they were sitting, 

 and when we came up, made them a few presents, 

 and asked leave to visit their Heppah ; they con- 

 sented with joy in their countenances, and immedi- 

 ately led the way. It is called Wharretouwa, and 

 is situated upon a high promontory or point, which 

 projects into the sea, on the north side, and near the 

 head of the bay: two sides of it are washed by the 

 sea, and these are altogether inaccessible; two other 

 sides are to the land: up one of them, which is very 

 steep, lies the avenue from the beach ; the other is 

 flat and open to the country upon the hill, which is 

 a narrow ridge: the whole is inclosed by a pallisade 

 about ten feet high, consisting of strong pales bound 

 together with withes. The weak side next the land 

 is also defended by a double ditch, the innermost of 

 which has a bank and an additional pallisade : the 

 inner pallisades are upon the bank next the town, but 

 at such a distance from the top of the bank as to leave 

 room for men to walk and use their arms, between them 

 and the inner ditch ; the outermost pallisades are be- 



