and other iron tools, which we had almost expended in exchange for refreshments, and we now wanted to create a new ftock of trading articles.

We landed where the natives directed us; and, foon after, I was introduced to Opoony, the chief, in the midst of a great concourfe of people, having no time to lofe, as foon as the neceflary formality of compliments was over, I atked the chief to give me the anchor, and produced the prefent I had prepared for him, confifting of a Jinen night-gown, a thirt, fome gauze handkerchiefs, a looking-glafs, fome beads, and other toys; and fix axes. Upon the receipt of thefe prefents, he ordered it to be delivered. Having thus completed my negotiation, I returned on board, hoifted in the boats, and made fail from the ifland to the north.

When we confider that this island is not more than eight leagues in compaís, it is rather re'markable that its people fhould have attempted, or have been able to achieve the conqueft of Ulietca and Otaha, the former of which islands is, of itfelf, at least double its fize.

How high the Bolabola men are now in eftimation at Otaheite, may be inferred from Monfieur de Bougainville's anchor having been convey ed to them. To the fame caufe we must afcribe the intention of transporting to their inland the Spanith bull. And they had already got poffeffion of a ram, brought to Otaheite by the Spaniards. I carried afhore an ewe, which we had brought from the Cape of Good Hope; and I hope that, by this prefent, I have laid the foundation for a breed of theep at Bolabola. I alfo left at Ulietea, under the care of Oreo, an English boar and

Low,

fow, and two goats. So that not only Otaheite, but all the neighbouring iflands, will, in a few years, have their race of hogs confiderably improved; and, probably, be ftocked with all the valuable animals which have been tranfported hither by their European vifiters.

Captain Cook informs his readers that the following obfervations on these iilands are written by Mr. Anderfon.-Perhaps. there is fcarcely a fpot in the universe that affords a more luxuriant profpect, than the fouth-eaft part of Otaheite. The hills are high and fteep; but they are covered to the very fummits with trees and fhrubs. The flat land, which bounds thofe hills toward the fea, and the interjacent valleys alfo, teem with various productions, that grow with the most exuberant vigour. Nature has been no lefs liberal in diftributing rivulets, which are found in every valley. The habitations of the natives are scattered, without order, upon these flats; and many of them appearing toward the fhore, prefented a delightful scene, viewed from our ships.

The natural fertility of the country, combined with the mildnefs and ferenity of the climate, renders the natives careless in their cultivation. The cloth-plant, which is raised by feeds brought from the mountains, and the ava, or intoxicating pepper, are almoft the only things to which they feem to pay any attention.

I have enquired very carefully into their manner of cultivating the bread-fruit tree; but was always answered that they never planted it. This, indeed, must be evident to every one who will examine the places where the young trees come up.

Their chief trees befide, are the cocoa-nut and the plantain; the latter only requires attention: in three months, after it is planted, it begins to bear; during which time it gives young thoots, which fupply a fucceffion of fruit. For the old ftocks are cut down as the fruit is taken off.

Curiofities of any kind are not numerous. Amongst these we may reckon a pond or lake of fresh water, at the top of one of the higheft mountains; to go to, and to return from which, takes three or four days. It is remarkable for its depth, and has eels of an enormous fize in it. This is efteemed one of the greatest natural curiofities in the country.

The mufcular appearance, fo common amongft the Friendly iflanders, and which feems a coniequence of their being accustomed to much action, is loft here, where the fuperior fertility of their country enables the inhabitants to lead a more indolent life.

Perfonal endowments being in great esteem amongst them, they have recourse to several methods of improving them, according to their notions of beauty. This is done by remaining a month or two in the houfe; during which time they wear a great quantity of clothes, and eat nothing but bread-fruit, to which they afcribe a remarkable property in whitening them.

Their common diet is made up of, at leaft, nine-tenths of vegetable food; and it is, perhaps, owing to this temperate courfe of life that they have fo few difeafes among them. They only reckon five or fix, which might be called chronic, or national diforders.

Their behaviour, on all occafions, feems to indicate a great opennefs and generofity of difpofi

tion. I never faw them, in any misfortune, labour under the appearance of anxiety, after the critical moment was paft. Neither does care ever feem to wrinkle their brow, On the contrary, even the approach of death does not appear to alter their usual vivacity.

Such a difpofition leads them to direct all their aims only to what can give them pleasure and ease. They delight in mufic; neither are they ftrangers to the foothing effects produced by particular forts of motion; which, in fome cafes, feem to allay any perturbation of mind, with as much fuccefs as mufic.

The Otaheiteans express their notions of death very emphatically, by faying, that "the foul goes into darkness;" or rather into night. Their language is fo copious, that for the bread-fruit alone, in its different ftates, they have above twenty names; as many for the taro root; and about ten for the cocoa-nut.

Notwithstanding the extreme fertility of the island, a famine frequently happens, in which, it is faid, many perifh. In times of fcarcity, after their bread-fruit and yams are confumed, they have recourse to various roots, which grow, without cultivation, upon the mountains. The patarra, which is found in vast quantities, is what they use firft. It is not unlike a very large potatoe or yam, and good when in its growing ftate.

Of animal food, a very small portion falls, at any time, to the fhare of the lower class of people; and then it is either fish, fea-eggs, or other marine productions; for they feldom or ever eat pork. The Eree de hoi* alone, is able to fur

Mr. Anderfon invariably in his manufcript writes Eree de hoi. According to Captain Cook's mode, it is Eree rahie.

nifh pork every day; and inferior chiefs, according to their riches, once a week, fortnight, or month.

It is alfo amongst the better fort that the ava is chiefly ufed. But this beverage is prepared fomewhat differently from that which we faw fo much of at the Friendly Iflands. They pour a very fmall quantity of water upon the root here; and fometimes roaft or bake, and bruife, the ftalks, without chewing it previously to its infufion. But its pernicious effects are very obvious; perhaps, owing to the manner of preparing it; as we often faw inftances of its intoxicating, or rather ftupifying, powers. As an excufe for a practice fo deftructive, they allege that it is adopted to prevent their growing too fat; but it evidently enervates them, and, in all probability, fhortens their days.

The times of eating, at Otaheite, are very frequent. Their firft meal is about two o'clock in the morning, after which they go to fleep; and the next is at eight. At eleven, they dine; and again, at two, and at five; and fup at eight. The women have not only the mortification of being obliged to eat by themfelves, and in a different part of the house from the men, but, by a ftrange kind of policy, are excluded from a fhare of moft of the better forts of food. The women, generally, ferve up their own victuals; for they would certainly tarve, before any grown man would do them fuch an office. When we enquir ed into the reafons of it, we could get no other anfwer, but that it is right and neceffary that it fhould be fo.

The women, indeed, are often treated with a degree of harthnefs, or rather brutality, which