132 CAPTAIN COOK 



their hands and pressed them to their hearts, 

 casting upon them looks of affection and tender- 

 ness. 



The island was covered with well-managed 

 plantations cultivated with the greatest care. It 

 was full of charming spots, regular nests of ver- 

 dure, where in the perfumed air the clear notes 

 of wonderful birds resounded. Cook, who had 

 not found a harbour suitable for his vessels, de- 

 cided not to tarry among the delights of this en- 

 chanting land, upon which, besides himself, no 

 European had landed since Tasman's time, and, 

 the day after his arrival, he left for the neigh- 

 bouring island of Amsterdam, called Tongata- 

 bou by the natives. 



The inhabitants of Tongatabou proved them- 

 selves as friendly and sociable as their neigh- 

 bours. They brought the strangers cloth, mats, 

 tools, weapons and ornaments, which the sailors 

 exchanged for their winter clothing. In order 

 to put a stop to this traffic, Cook forbade his men 

 to buy "any fancy stuff." This order produced 

 the desired effect, for the Indians then offered 

 bananas, coconuts, fowls and pigs. 



Cook ratified a treaty of friendship with the 

 chief, Atago, who evinced for him exemplary 

 attachment and faithfulness during his stay in 

 this happy island. For Tongatabou was an ab- 



