142 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777- witneftbs. For Taweiharooa’s account was only from what 
^ rebruay. ^ btid been told, and therefore liable to many miftakes. 
I have not the lead: doubt, however, that his teftimony may 
fo far be depended upon, as to induce us to believe, that 
a fhip really had been at Teerawitte prior to my arrival in 
the Endeavour, as it correfponds with what I had formerly 
heard. For in the latter end of 1773, ^ ie Second time I 
vilited New Zealand, during my late voyage, when we were 
continually making inquiries about the Adventure, after 
our leparation, fome of the natives informed us of a Ihip’s 
having been in a port on the coaft of Teera witte. But, at 
that time, we thought we mull have mifunderftood them, 
and took no notice of the intelligence. 
The arrival of this unknown Blip has been marked by 
the New Zealanders with more caufes of remembrance 
than the unhappy one juft mentioned. Taweiharooa told 
us, their country was indebted to her people for the prefent 
of an animal, which they left behind them. But as he had 
not feen it himfelf, no fort of judgment could be form¬ 
ed from his defcription, of what kind it was. 
We had another piece of intelligence from him, more 
corredtly given, though not confirmed by our own obferva- 
tions, that there are fnakes and lizards there of an enor¬ 
mous fize. He defended the latter as being eight feet in 
length, and as big round as a man’s body. He faid, they 
fometimes feize and devour men; that they burrow in the 
ground; and that they are killed by making fires at the 
mouths of the holes. We could not be miftaken as to the 
animal; for, with his own hand, he drew a very good re- 
prefentation of a lizard on a piece of paper; as alfo of a 
fnake, in order to fhew what he meant. 
Though much has been faid, in the Narratives of my 
Two 
