JULY 1769 ULHIETEA 113 
Huahine differs scarcely at all from Otahite, either in 
its productions or in the customs of the people. In all our 
researches here we have not found above ten or twelve new 
plants; there were, indeed, a few insects and a species of 
scorpion which we had not seen at Otahite. This island 
seems, however (this year, at least), to be a month more 
forward than the other, as the ripeness of the cocoanuts, 
now full of kernel, and the new bread-fruit, some of which 
is fit to eat, fully evinces. Of the cocoanut kernels they 
make a food, called poe, by scraping them fine and mixing 
them with yams, also scraped; these are then put into a 
wooden trough, and hot stones laid among them. By this 
means a kind of oily hasty-pudding is made, which our 
people relished very well, especially when fried. 
The men here are large and stout; one we measured was 
six feet three inches high and well made. The women are 
very fair, more so than at Otahite, though we saw none so 
handsome. Both sexes seemed to be less timid, as well as 
less curious; the firing of a gun frightened them, but they 
did not fall down, as our Otahite friends generally did. On 
one of their people being taken in the act of stealing, and 
seized by the hair, the rest did not run away, but coming 
round, inquired into the cause, and, seemingly at least, ap- 
proving of the justice, recommended a beating for the 
offender, which was immediately put into practice. 
When they first came on board the ship they seemed 
struck with sights so new, and wondered at everything that 
was shown to them, but did not seem to search or inquire 
for matters of curiosity even so much as the people of 
Otahite did, although the latter had before seen almost 
everything we had to show them. 
20th. At noon to-day we came to anchor at Ulhietea, in 
a bay called by the natives Oapoa, the entrance of which 
is very near a small islet called Owhattera. Some Indians 
soon came on board, expressing signs of fear. There were 
two canoes, each of which brought a woman, I suppose, as a 
mark of confidence, and a pig as a present. To each of 
these ladies was given a spike-nail and some beads, with 
I 
