FIRST VOYAGE 65 



Tupia, in conversing with them, and making many 

 inquiries concerning the curiosities of New Zealand, asked 

 them if they had ever before seen a ship of the magnitude of 

 the Endeavour ; to which they replied they had never seen 

 such a vessel, nor ever heard that one had been upon the 

 coast. There is great plenty of fish in all the coves of this 

 bay. The inhabitants catch their fish as follows : their net 

 is cylindrical, extended by several hoops at the bottom, 

 and contracted at the top ; the fish, going in to feed upon 

 what is put in the net, are caught in great abundance. 

 There are also birds of various kinds, and in large numbers, 

 particularly parrots, wood pigeons, water hens, hawks, 

 and many different singing birds. An herb, a species of 

 philadelphus, was used here instead of tea ; and a plant, 

 called Teegoomme, resembling rug cloaks, served the 

 natives for garments. The environs of the cove where the 

 Endeavour lay are covered entirely with wood. The air of 

 the country is very moist, and has some qualities that 

 promote putrefaction ; as birds that had been shot but 

 a few hours were found with maggots in them. 



Captain Cook, Mr. Banks, and the Doctor visited a cove, 

 about two miles from the ship. There was a family of 

 Indians, who appeared greatly alarmed at their approach. 

 They found by their provisions that they were cannibals, 

 there being several human bones that had lately been 

 dressed and picked. They made no secret of this fearful 

 custom, but answered Tupia, who was desired to ascertain 

 the fact, with much composure. His conjectures, they said, 

 were just, that they were the bones of a man, and testified 

 by signs that they thought human flesh delicious food ; 

 but that they never ate any save their enemies. There 

 was a woman in this family whose arms and legs were cut 

 in a shocking manner, and it appeared she had thus 

 wounded herself, because her husband had lately been 

 killed and eaten by the enemy.* 



Some of the Indians brought four skulls to sell, which 

 they rated at a high price. The gentlemen likewise saw 

 the bail of a canoe, which was made of a human skull. In 

 a word, their ideas were so horrid and brutal, that they 

 seemed to pride themselves upon their cruelty and barbarity, 

 and took a peculiar pleasure in showing the manner in 

 which they killed their enemies, it being considered meri- 

 torious to be expert at this destruction. The method was 

 to knock them down with their patoo patoos, and then rip 

 up their bellies. 



An amazing number of birds usually began their melody 

 about two o'clock in the morning. This harmony was very 

 agreeable, as the ship lay at a convenient distance from 

 680 



