236 CAPTAIN COOK 



on the shore they fell with their faces on the 

 ground, and remained there until they were 

 made to understand that he wished them to rise. 



Cook visited another of the islands which he 

 had seen, and which the natives called Onee- 

 heow. It differed very little from Atooi, per- 

 haps a little less fertile, but covered with deli- 

 cate flowers which spread a delightful perfume. 

 Its inhabitants had exactly the same customs as 

 their neighbours. These people were cannibals, 

 and an old man, whom the Englishmen asked if 

 his countrymen ate human flesh, seemed aston- 

 ished at being asked so simple a question. He 

 answered that it was "excellent to eat." 



Cook named this archipelago, of which he 

 only knew five islands, the Sandwich Islands, in 

 honour of the First Lord of the Admiralty, "his 

 patron and his friend." 



Having procured all necessary provisions and 

 stores, he continued on his way northwards, and, 

 after sailing for a month, he sighted the western 

 coast of North America, that coast to which 

 Francis Drake had given the name of New 

 Albion. 



On March 29th the two ships anchored in a 

 bay which Cook christened "King George's 

 Bay." The natives of this part of America 

 showed remarkable aptitude for commerce. 



