APR. 1769 RECEPTION BY THE NATIVES 75 
yesterday. These we invited to come on board, and in 
coming into the cabin each singled out his friend: one 
took the captain, and the other chose myself. Each 
took off a large part of his clothes, and dressed his friend 
with what he took off; in return for this we presented them 
with a hatchet and some beads apiece. As they made 
many signs to us to go to the places where they lived, to 
the south-west of where we lay, the boats were hoisted out, 
and, taking them with us, we immediately proceeded accord- 
ing to their directions. 
After rowing about a league, they beckoned us on shore, 
and showed us a long house where they gave us to under- 
stand that they lived: here we landed and were met by 
some hundreds of the inhabitants, who conducted us into 
the long house. Mats were spread, and we were desired to 
sit down fronting an old man whom we had not before seen. 
He immediately ordered a cock and a hen to be brought, 
which were presented to Captain Cook and myself. We 
accepted the present; a piece of cloth was then presented 
to each of us, perfumed, not disagreeably, after their manner, 
as they took great pains to make us understand. My piece 
was eleven yards long by two wide. For this I made re- 
turn by presenting him with a large laced silk neck-cloth 
I had on, and a linen pocket handkerchief: these he 
immediately put on and seemed much pleased. After 
this ceremony was over we walked freely about several 
large houses, attended by the ladies, who showed us all kinds 
of civilities. 
We now took leave of our friendly chief, and proceeded 
along shore for about a mile, when we were met by a throng 
of people, at the head of whom appeared another chief. We 
had learned the ceremony we were to go through, namely, to 
receive the green bough always brought to us at every fresh 
meeting, and to ratify the peace of which it was the emblem, 
by laying our hands on our breasts and saying Tato, which 
I imagine signifies friend. The bough was here offered and 
accepted, and every one of us said Taio ; the chief then 
made signs that if we chose to eat, he had victuals ready : 
