JULY 1769 ULHIETEA 113 



Huahine differs scarcely at all from Otahite, either in 

 its productions or in the customs of the people. In all our 

 researches here we have not found above ten or twelve new 

 plants; there were, indeed, a few insects and a species of 

 scorpion which we had not seen at Otahite. This island 

 seems, however (this year, at least), to be a month more 

 forward than the other, as the ripeness of the cocoanuts, 

 now full of kernel, and the new bread-fruit, some of which 

 is fit to eat, fully evinces. Of the cocoanut kernels they 

 make a food, called poe, by scraping them fine and mixing 

 them with yams, also scraped ; these are then put into a 

 wooden trough, and hot stones laid among them. By this 

 means a kind of oily hasty -pudding is made, which our 

 people relished very well, especially when fried* 



The men here are large and stout ; one we measured was 

 six feet three inches high and well made. The women are 

 very fair, more so than at Otahite, though we saw none so 

 handsome. Both sexes seemed to be less timid, as well as 

 less curious ; the firing of a gun frightened them, but they 

 did not fall down, as our Otahite friends generally did. On 

 one of their people being taken in the act of stealing, and 

 seized by the hair, the rest did not run away, but coming 

 round, inquired into the cause, and, seemingly at least, ap- 

 proving of the justice, recommended a beating for the 

 offender, which was immediately put into practice. 



When they first came on board the ship they seemed 

 struck with sights so new, and wondered at everything that 

 was shown to them, but did not seem to search or inquire 

 for matters of curiosity even so much as the people of 

 Otahite did, although the latter had before seen almost 

 everything we had to show them. 



20th. At noon to-day we came to anchor at Ulhietea, in 

 a bay called by the natives Oapoa, the entrance of which 

 is very near a small islet called Owhattera. Some Indians 

 soon came on board, expressing signs of fear. There were 

 two canoes, each of which brought a woman, I suppose, as a 

 mark of confidence, and a pig as a present. To each of 

 these ladies was given a spike -nail and some beads, with 



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