124 Transactions.—Miscellaneous. 
had an axe made of the before-mentioned greenstone, which he would not 
part with for anything we offered him. Several of them were very curiously 
tattooed. The natives, both on board and on shore, behaved with great 
civility, and at night they began to heivo and dance in their manner, which 
was very uncouth. Nothing could be more droll than to see old men with 
grey beards assuming every antic posture imaginable, rolling their eyes 
about, lolling out their tongues, and, in short, working themselves up to a 
sort of phrenzy. 
‘“ The surf running high, the men who went on shore found great 
diffieulty in getting the water into the long-boat, and in coming off the 
boat was swamped. We therefore enquired of the natives for a more 
convenient watering-place, and they pointed to a bay bearing S.W. by W. 
On receiving this information we weighed anchor, but the wind being against 
us we stood off and on till the next morning, the 23rd, and then bore away 
to leeward, and looked into the bay which we had passed before. About 
noon we dropped anchor, and one of our boats went into a little cove where 
there was smooth landing and fresh water, and we moored the ship about 
a mile and a-half from theshore. This bay is called by the natives * Tolago,' 
and is very open, being exposed to all the violence of the east wind. Beveral 
canoes eame alongside of the ship, of whom we got some fish, kumeras or 
sweet potatoes, and several other things; but the natives were indifferent 
about most of the things we offered them, except white cloth and glasses 
Which suited their faney, so that we found it difüeult to trade with them. 
They had some greenstone axes and earrings, but they would not part with 
them on any terms; and as to their kumeras they set great value upon 
them. 
* The country about the bay is agreeable beyond description, and with 
proper cultivation, might be rendered a kind of second Paradise. The hills 
are covered with beautiful flowering shrubs, intermingled with a great 
number of tall and stately palms, which fill the air with a most grateful 
fragrant perfume. We saw the tree which produces the cabbage, which ate 
well boiled. We also found some trees yielded a fine transparent gum, and 
between the hills we discovered some fruitful valleys that are adapted either 
to cultivation or pasturage. The country abounds with different kinds of 
herbage fit for food. Our botanists were agreeably employed in investigating 
the trees and plants of the country. Within land there were many scandent 
ferns and parasitic plants, and on the sea-shore Salicornias, Mesembryan- 
themum, and others. The plant of which they make their cloth is a sort of 
Hemerocallis, and the leaves yield a very strong and glossy flax, of which 
their garments and ropes are made. Adjoining their houses are plantations 
of kumera and taro. These grounds are cultivated with great care and kept 
. Clean and neat, 
* 
