126 A V O Y A G E T O 



'777- troduced) ; and if it were not for the difficulty of clearing 



Febraaiy. , , , i i i i i 



t ^ , ground where potatoes had been once planted, there would 



not have been any now remaining. 



Sunday 16. On the 1 6th, at day-break, I fet out with a party of men, 

 in five boats, to colled food for our cattle. Captain Gierke, 

 and feveral of the officers, Omai, and two of the natives, 

 accompanied me. We proceeded about three leagues up 

 the found, and then landed on the Eaft fide, at a place 

 where I had formerly been. Here we cut as much grafs as 

 loaded the two launches. 



As we returned down the found, we vifited Grafs Cove, 

 the memorable fcene of the MalTacre of Captain Furneaux's 

 people. Here I met with ray old friend Pedro, who was 

 almoft continually with me the lafl: time I was in this found, 

 and is mentioned in my Hiftory of that Voyage * He, and 

 another of his countrymen, received us on the beach, 

 armed with the pa-too and fpear. Whether this form of 

 reception was a mark of their courtefy or of their fear, I 

 cannot fay; but I thought they betrayed manifeft figns of 

 the latter. However, if they had any apprehenfions, a few 

 prefents foon removed them, and brought down to the beach 

 two or three more of the family ; but the greateft part of 

 them remained out of fight. 



Whilft we were at this place, our curiofity prompted us to 

 inquire into the circumllances attending the melancholy 

 fate of our countrymen ; and Omai was made ufe of as our 

 interpreter for this purpofe. Pedro, and the reft of the na- 

 tives prefent, anfwered all the queftions that were put to 

 fhem on the fubjed', without refer%'e, and hke men who 



'■"■■ Captain Cook's Voyage, VoL ii. p. 158, 159. 



are 



