124 ^ Transactions. — Miscellaneovs. 



had an axe maJe of the before-meutioued 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 then- manner, which 

 was very uncouth. Nothing could be more droll than to see old men with 

 grey beards assumhig 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 

 difficulty 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 pomted 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 httle cove where 

 there was smooth landing and fresh water, and we moored the ship about 

 a mile and a-half from the shore. This bay is called by the natives ' Tolago,' 

 and is very open, being exposed to all the violence of the east wind. Several 

 canoes came alongside of the ship, of whom we got some fish, kumeras or 

 sweet potatoes, and several other thuigs ; but the natives were indifferent 

 about most of the things we offered them, except white cloth and glasses 

 which suited their, fancy, so that we found it difficult 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 hiUs 

 are covered with beautifiil flowering shrubs, mtermingled 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. 



