104 cook's second voyage SEPT. 



entrails was found dead. When the natives came on 

 board and saw the fish hang up, they immediately 

 gave us to understand it was not wholesome food, and 

 expressed the utmost abhorrence of it ; though no 

 one was observed to do this when the fish was to be 

 sold, or even after it was purchased. 



On the 8th, the guard and a party of men were 

 on shore as usual. In the afternoon I received a 

 message from the officer, acquainting me that 

 Teabooma, the chief, was come with a present, 

 consisting of a few yams and sugar-canes. In re- 

 turn I sent him, amongst other articles, a dog and a 

 bitch, both young, but nearly full grown. The dog 

 was red and white, but the bitch was all red, or the 

 colour of an English fox. I mention this, because 

 they may prove the Adam and Eve of their species 

 in that country. When the officer returned on board 

 in the evening, he informed me that the chief came 

 attended by about twenty men, so that it looked like 

 a visit of ceremony. It was some time before he 

 would believe the dog and bitch were intended for 

 him ; but as soon as he was convinced, he seemed 

 lost in an excess of joy, and sent them away im- 

 mediately. 



Next morning early I dispatched Lieutenant Pick- 

 ersgill and Mr. Gilbert, with the launch and cutter, 

 to explore the coast to the west ; judging this would 

 be better effected in the boats than in the ship, as 

 the reefs would force the latter several leagues from 

 land. After breakfast, a party of men was sent ashore 

 to make brooms; but myself and the two Mr. Fors- 

 ters were confined on board, though much better, a 

 good sweat having had a happy effect. In the after- 

 noon, a man was seen, both ashore and alongside the 

 ship, said to be as white as any European. From the 

 account I had of him (for I did not see him) his 

 whiteness did not proceed from hereditary descent, 

 but from chance or some disease; and such have been 



