APR. 1769 RECEPTION BY THE NATIVES 75 



yesterday. These we invited to come on board, and in 

 coming into the cabin each singled out his friend: one 

 took the captain, and the other chose myself. Each 

 took off a large part of his clothes, and dressed his friend 

 with what he took off; in return for this we presented them 

 with a hatchet and some beads apiece. As they made 

 many signs to us to go to the places where they lived, to 

 the south-west of where we lay, the boats were hoisted out, 

 and, taking them with us, we immediately proceeded accord- 

 ing to their directions. 



After rowing about a league, they beckoned us on shore, 

 and showed us a long house where they gave us to under- 

 stand that they lived: here we landed and were met by 

 some hundreds of the inhabitants, who conducted us into 

 the long house. Mats were spread, and we were desired to 

 sit down fronting an old man whom we had not before seen. 

 He immediately ordered a cock and a hen to be brought, 

 which were presented to Captain Cook and myself. We 

 accepted the present ; a piece of cloth was then presented 

 to each of us, perfumed, not disagreeably, after their manner, 

 as they took great pains to make us understand. My piece 

 was eleven yards long by two wide. For this I made re- 

 turn by presenting him with a large laced silk neck-cloth 

 I had on, and a linen pocket handkerchief: these he 

 immediately put on and seemed much pleased. After 

 this ceremony was over we walked freely about several 

 large houses, attended by the ladies, who showed us all kinds 

 of civilities. 



We now took leave of our friendly chief, and proceeded 

 along shore for about a mile, when we were met by a throng 

 of people, at the head of whom appeared another chief. We 

 had learned the ceremony we were to go through, namely, to 

 receive the green bough always brought to us at every fresh 

 meeting, and to ratify the peace of which it was the emblem, 

 by laying our hands on our breasts and saying Taio, which 

 I imagine signifies friend. The bough was here offered and 

 accepted, and every one of us said Taio; the chief then 

 made signs that if we chose to eat, he had victuals ready : 



