98 cook's second voyage SEPT. 



them Oobee. This name is not unlike Oofee, as they 

 are called at most of the islands, except Mallicollo ; 

 nevertheless, we found these people spoke a language 

 new to us. Like all the nations we had lately seen, 

 the men were almost naked, having hardly any other 

 covering but such a wrapper as is used at Mallicollo.* 

 They were curious in examining every part of the 

 ship, which they viewed with uncommon attention. 

 They had not the least knowledge of goats, hogs, dogs, 

 or cats, and had not even a name for one of them. 

 They seemed fond of large spike-nails, and pieces of 

 red cloth, or indeed of any other colour; but red 

 was their favourite. 



After dinner I went on shore with two armed 

 boats, having with us one of the natives who had 

 attached himself to me. We landed on a sandy 

 beach before a vast number of people, who had got 

 together with no other intent than to see us ; for 

 many of them had not a stick in their hands ; con- 

 sequently we were received with great courtesy, and 

 with the surprise natural for people to express at 

 seeing men and things so new to them as we must be. 

 I made presents to all those my friend pointed out, who 

 were either old men, or such as seemed to be of some 

 note ; but he took not the least notice of some women 

 who stood behind the crowd, holding my hand when 

 I was going to give them some beads and medals. 

 Here we found the same chief who had been seen in 

 one of the canoes in the morning. His name, we 

 now learnt, was Teabooma ; and we had not been on 

 shore above ten minutes, before he called for silence. 

 Being instantly obeyed by every individual present, 

 he made a short speech > and soon after another chief 

 having called for silence, made a speech also. It 

 was pleasing to see with what attention they were 

 heard. Their speeches were composed of short 

 sentences \ to each of which two or three old men 



* See the note at p. 32. of this volume. 



