SECOND VOYAGE 125 



with a piece of cloth, and a green talc hatchet ; to Mr. 

 Forster he also gave a piece of cloth ; and, the girl gave 

 another to Mr. Hodges. This custom of making presents, 

 before they receive any, is common with the natives of the 

 South Sea Islands ; but they never saw it practised in New 

 Zealand before. Of all the various articles which were 

 given to the chief, hatchets and spike-nails were the most 

 valuable in his eyes. 



On the 20th, they went ashore to examine the head of the 

 bay, and in their way, firing at some ducks, the natives, who 

 were not discovered before, set up a most hideous noise in 

 two or three places close by them. The falling tide obliged 

 them to retire out of the river to the place where they had 

 spent the night. There they breakfasted, and just as the 

 Captain was returning on board, he saw two men on the 

 opposite shore, hallooing to them, which induced him to row 

 over to them. He landed, with two others, unarmed ; the 

 two natives standing, with each a spear in his hand. 



At last, one of them was prevailed on to lay down his 

 spear, and met the Captain with a grass plant in his hand ; 

 one end of which he gave him to hold, while he held the 

 other. Standing in this manner, he began a speech, and 

 made some long pauses. As soon as this ceremony was 

 over, they saluted each other. He then took his hahou, or 

 coat, from off his own back, and put it upon the Captain ; 

 after which peace seemed firmly established. 



When they took leave, the natives followed them to their 

 boat, and seeing the muskets lying across the stern, they 

 made signs for them to be taken away, which being done, 

 they came alongside, and assisted to launch her. At this 

 time it was necessary to look well after them, for they wanted 

 to take away every thing they could lay their hands upon, 

 except the muskets. These they took care not to touch, 

 being taught by the slaughter they had seen made among 

 the wild fowl, to look upon them as instruments of death. 



In the afternoon of the 21st, they went seal hunting. 

 The surf ran so high that they could only land in one 

 place, where they killed ten. These animals served three 

 purposes ; the skins were made use of for the rigging ; the 

 fat gave oil for their lamps ; and the flesh they ate, finding 

 it little inferior to beef-steaks. 



In the morning of the 23rd, Mr. Pickersgill, Mr. Gilbert, 

 and two others, ascended one of the mountains. In the 

 evening they returned on board, and reported that, inland, 

 nothing was to be seen but barren mountains, with huge 

 craggy precipices, disjoined by valleys, or rather chasms, 

 frightful to behold. 



Having five geese left out of those brought from the Cape 



