100 COOK^ VOYAGE TO MARCH, 



villages, interspersed with groves of cocoa-nut trees 

 spreading along the sea-shore ; a thick wood stretch- 

 ing out of sight behind them ; and to the right, an 

 extent of ground laid out in regular and well culti- 

 vated plantations, as far as the eye could reach. 



Near this spot, at a distance from any other dwell- 

 ing, the natives pointed out to them the residence of 

 an hermit, who, they said, had formerly been a great 

 chief and warrior, but had long ago quitted the shores 

 of the island, and now never stirred from his cottage. 

 They prostrated themselves as they approached him, 

 and afterward presented to him a part of such provi- 

 sions as they had brought with them. His behaviour 

 was easy and cheerful ; he scarce shewed any marks 

 of astonishment at the sight of our people, and though 

 pressed to accept some of our curiosities, he declined 

 the offer, and soon withdrew to his cottage. He was 

 described as by far the oldest person any of the party 

 had ever seen, and judged to be, by those who com- 

 puted his age at the lowest, upward of 100 years old. 



As our people had imagined the mountain not to 

 be more than ten or twelve miles from the bay, and 

 consequently, that they should reach it with ease 

 early the next morning, an error into which its great 

 height had probably led them, they were now much 

 surprised to find the distance scarce perceptibly di- 

 minished. This circumstance, together with the 

 uninhabited state of the country they were going to 

 enter, made it necessary to procure a supply of pro- 

 visions; and for that purpose they dispatched one of 

 their guides back to the village. Whilst they were 

 waiting his return, they were joined by some of 

 Kaoo's servants, whom that benevolent old man had 

 sent after them, as soon as he heard of their journey, 

 laden with refreshments, and authorized, as their 

 route lay through his grounds, to demand and take 

 away whatever they might have occasion for. 



Our travellers were much astonished to find the 

 cold here so intense; but having no thermometer with 



