FIRST VOYAGE 39 



the peninsula to the south-east, made a descent here, and 

 slew many of the people ; that hereupon Oberea, and 

 Oamo who then held the government for his son, had fled 

 and taken refuge in the mountains ; and that the victors 

 destroyed all the houses and pillaged the country. The 

 turkey and goose, which had been seen in the district of 

 Mathiabo, were among the booty ; and the jaw-bones, 

 which were discovered there, had likewise been carried off 

 as trophies of victory. 



On Friday the 30th, they arrived at Otahourou, where 

 their old acquaintance Tootahah resided ; he received them 

 with great civility, and provided for them a good supper and 

 a convenient lodging ; and notwithstanding they were so 

 shamefully plundered the last time they slept with this 

 chief, they spent the night in the utmost security, none of 

 their clothes, or any other article being missing in the 

 morning. 



On Saturday, July 1st, they returned to the fort at Port 

 Royal Harbour ; having discovered the island, both penin- 

 sulas included, to be about one hundred miles in circum- 

 ference. 



Their Indian friends crowded about them upon their 

 return, and none of them came without provisions. 



Monday the 3rd, Mr. Banks made an excursion, with 

 some Indian guides, to trace the river up the valley to its 

 source, and observe to what extent its banks were inhabited. 

 After meeting with houses for the space of six miles they 

 came up to one which was said to be the last that could be 

 seen. The master of it presented them with cocoa-nuts 

 and other fruits ; and after a short visit, they continued 

 their walk. In this tour they often passed under vaults, 

 formed by rocky fragments, in which they were informed 

 that those who were benighted often took refuge. During 

 this tour he had a good opportunity of searching for minerals, 

 but found none. The stones, everywhere resembling those 

 of Madeira, gave manifest signs of having been burnt. 

 There were also evident traces of fire in the clay upon the 

 hills, both of this and the neighbouring islands. 



Mr. Banks was engaged the 4th, in planting on each side 

 of the fort a quantity of the seeds of water melons, oranges, 

 lemons, limes, and other plants and trees which he had 

 brought from Rio de Janeiro. He gave these seeds to 

 the Indians in great plenty, and planted many of them 

 in the woods : some of the melon-seeds which had been 

 planted soon after his arrival, had already produced plants, 

 which appeared to be in a very flourishing state. 



Preparations were now made for departing ; and Captain 

 Cook hoped to quit the island, without any further mis- 



