SECOND VOYAGE 143 



resentment, who, no doubt, if necessary, has address 

 enough to persuade the people that he was. a bad man. 



After leaving Ulietea, on the 17th of September, 1773, 

 they steered to the west, ^nd, on the 1st of October, they 

 saw the island of Middleburg. As they approached the 

 shore, two canoes came boldly alongside, and some of the 

 natives entered the ship without hesitation. This mark 

 of confidence gave Captain Cook a good opinion of these 

 islanders, and determined him to visit them if possible. 

 They found good anchorage, and came to in twenty-five 

 fathoms water. They had scarcely got to an anchor, 

 before they were surrounded by a great number of canoes 

 full of people, who began a traffic. Among them was a 

 chief, named Tioony, to whom the Captain made a present 

 of a hatchet, spike-nails, and several other articles, with 

 which he was highly pleased. 



Soon after, a party of them embarked in two boats, in 

 company with Tioony, who conducted them to a little 

 creek formed by the rocks, right abreast of the ships, where 

 landing was extremely easy, and the boats secure against 

 the surf. Here they found an immense crowd of people, who 

 welcomed them on shore with loud acclamations. Not one 

 of them had so much as a stick, or any other weapon in his 

 hand ; an indubitable sign of their pacific intentions. They 

 thronged so thick round the boats, with cloth and matting, 

 to exchange for nails, that it was some time before they 

 could get room to land. Many who could not get near the 

 boats, threw into them, over the others' heads, whole bales 

 of cloth, and then retired, without either asking or waiting 

 to get anything in return. The chief conducted them to 

 his house, about three hundred yards from the sea, at the 

 head of a fine lawn, and under the shade of some shaddock 

 trees. The situation was most delightful. In front was 

 the sea, and the ships at anchor ; behind, and on each side, 

 were plantations, in which were some of the richest pro- 

 ductions of nature. The floor was laid with mats, on which 

 they were placed, and the people seated themselves in a 

 circle round them on the outside. Having the bagpipes 

 with them, Captain Cook ordered them to be played ; and, 

 in return, the chief directed three young women to sing a 

 song, which they did with a very good grace ; and having 

 made each of them a present, this immediately set all the 

 women in the circle singing. Their songs were musical and 

 harmonious. Bananas and cocoa-nuts were set before 

 them to eat, and a bowl of liquor prepared in their presence, 

 of the juice of Eava, for them to drink. But Captain Cook 

 was the only one who tasted it ; the manner of brewing it 

 having quenched the thirst of every one else. The bow 



