flute, but the performer blew with his noftril instead of his mouth: feveral others fung, only one tune, to this inftrument.

Some of the Indians brought the English axes to grind and repair, most of which they had received from the Dolphin; but a French one occafioned much speculation, and it at length appeared to have been left here by M. de Bougainville.

On the 25th, feveral knives belonging to the officers were miffing; upon which Mr. Banks, who had loft his among the reft, accufed one of the chiefs with having stolen it, which caufed him to be very unhappy, as he happened to be innocent of the fact, Mr. Banks's fervant having miflaid it; and the reft were produced in a rag by a native. This chief was fome time before he would forget this accufation, the tears starting from his eyes, and he made figns with the knife, that if he had ever been guilty of fuch an action, as was imputed to him, he would fuffer his throat to be cut. However, in general, these people, from the highest to the lowest, are the greatest thieves in the world.

On the 26th, fix fwivel-guns were mounted upon the fort, which put the natives into great confternation, and caused several fishermen, who lived upon the point, to remove farther off, imagining they were to be fired at in a few days.

The next day Tubora Tumaida, with a friend, a remarkable glutton, and three of his women, dined at the fort; after which he fet out for his houfe in the wood. In a fhort time he returned in much agitation, to acquaint Mr. Banks, that the fhip's butcher had threatened to cut his wife's throat, upon her refufing to fell him a stone hatchet, which he had taken a fancy to, for a nail. It clearly appeared he had been culpable, and he was flogged on board, in fight of several Indians. As foon as the first ftroke was given they interfered, and earnestly intreated that he might be untied. This being refufed, they burst into tears, and fhewed great concern.

During the forenoon of this day, canoes were continually coming in, and the tents at the fort were filled with people of both fexes. Mr. Molineux, master of the Endeavour, went on fhore, and feeing a woman, whofe name was Oberea, he declared the was the perfon he judged to be the queen of the island, when he came there on board the Dolphin in the last voyage.

The eyes of every one were now fixed on her who had made fo diftinguished a figure in the accounts that had been given by the first difcoverers of this ifland. The perfon of the Queen Oberea was of a large make, and tall; fhe was about forty years of age, her fkin white; her eyes had great expreffion and meaning in them; the had been handsome, but her beauty was now upon the decline. She was foon conducted to the ship, and went on board, accompanied with fome of her family. Many prefents were made her, particularly a child's doll, which feemed the moft to engrofs her attention. Captain Cook accompanied her on fhore; and as foon as they landed, fhe perfented him with a hog, and fome plantains, which were carried to the fort in proceffion, Oberea and the captain bringing up the rear. They met Tootahah, who, though not king, feemed to be at this time invefted with fovereign authority. He immediately became jealous of the Queen's having the doll; which made them find it neceffary to compliment him with one alfo.

On Saturday 29th, in the forenoon, Mr. Banks paid a visit to Oberea, who was still asleep under the awning of her canoe, whither he went with an intention of calling her up. Upon entering her chamber, to his great furprize, he found her in bed with a handfome young fellow, about five-and-twenty; upon which he immediately retired with fome precipitation, not a little difconcerted at this difcovery; but he was foon given to understand, that fuch amours were by no means confidered fcandalous,

and that Obadie, the perfon found in bed with the Queen, was by every one known to have been selected by her as the object of her lafcivious hours. The Queen foon got up and dreffed herself to wait upon Mr. Banks.

The next day, Sunday, the 30th, Tomio came running to the tents, and taking Mr. Banks by the arm, to whom they applied in all emergent cafes, told him that Tubora Tumaida was dying, owing to fomething which had been given him to eat by his people, and prayed him to go inftantly to him. Accordingly Mr. Banks went, and found the Indian very fick. He was told, that he had been vomiting, and had thrown up a leaf, which they faid contained fome of the poifon which he had taken. Upon examining the leaf, Mr. Banks found it to be nothing more than tobacco, which the Indian had begged of fome of their people. He looked up to Mr. Banks, while he was examining the leaf, as if he had not a moment to live. Mr. Banks, now knowing his diforder, ordered him to drink of cocoa-nut milk, which foon restored him to health, and he was as cheerful as ever.

On the ift of May, Captain Cook produced an iron adze, made in imitation of one of their stone ones, which had been brought home by Captain Wallis, and fhewed it to Tootahah, who took such a fancy to it, that notwithstanding he was offered the choice of any of the things that were in his chefts, he fnatched it up with the greatest eagernefs, and would accept of nothing elfe. The fame day a chief, who had dined on board a few days before, accompanied by fome of his women, who used to feed him, came on board by himself, and when dinner was on table, the captain helped him to fome victuals, thinking upon this occafion he would condefcend to feed himself; but he never attempted to eat, and had not one of the fervants fed him, he would certainly have gone without his dinner.

In the afternoon they took the astronomical quadrant, with some other inftruments, on fhore.

On Tuesday, the 2d, having occafion to ufe the quadrant, to their great aftonishment and concern it was mifling; this was the more extraordinary, as a fentinel had been posted the whole night within a few yards of the tent in which it had been depofited; and it had never been taken out of the cafe in which it was packed. Their own people were at firft fufpected, imagining they might have mistaken the contents for articles ufed in traffic. They fearched the fort and the adjacent places, and a confiderable reward was offered, as the lofs of this inftrument would have rendered it impoffible for them to have made the neceffary obfervations refpecting the tranfit, one of the principal objects of their voyage. After every fruitlefs fearch had been made, Mr. Banks, accompanied by Mr. Green and fome other gentlemen, fet out for the woods, where he thought he might gain fome intelligence of the robbery, if it had been committed by the natives. In the courfe of their journey they met Tubora Tumaida, with a few of the natives, who was made by figns to understand, that some of his countrymen had stolen the quadrant, and Mr. Banks infifted upon being conducted to the place where it was concealed. Accordingly, they proceeded together a few miles, and, after fome enquiry, Tubora Tumaida received information of the thief, and that he was to be found at a place about four miles diftant.

Having obtained from Captain Cook a party of men armed as guards, they proceeded to the fpot, and were met by one of Tubora Tumaida's own people, with part of the quadrant; foon afterwards the box in which it bad been packed, containing the other parts of it, was recovered. It had received no material injury, though taken to pieces.

3T 2

On

On Wednesday the 3d, in the morning, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander attended as ufual to purchase provifions, but the Indians brought nothing to market; nor could they procure any from fome fishing-boats which came abreast of the tents, though they were in great want of cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit.

Their provifions now were extremely fcarce, and the markets ill fupplied. Next day, with fome difficulty, Mr. Banks obtained a few baskets of bread-fruit from Tubora Tumaida in the woods, which were a very seasonable relief. An axe and fhirt were sent for this day by Tootahah, in return for his two hogs, which they promised to bring him the next day. If they had not complied with this requeft, they could have fcarcely procured any provifions.

After his fending again early in the morning, on Friday 5th, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, with the captain, fet out in the pinnace, taking one of Tootahah's people with them. They foon reached Eparre, the place where he dwelt, which was but a few miles to the weft of the tents. Upon their arrival, they found great numbers of people upon the fhore waiting for them. They were immediately conducted to the chief, whilft the natives fhouted round them, Taio Tootahah, "Tootahah is your friend." They found him fitting under a tree, and fome old men ftanding round him. As foon as he had made figns for them to fit down, he asked for his axe, which Captain Cook prefented to him, with a shirt and a broad cloth garment, with which he feemed greatly pleased; and put the garment on. After eating a mouthful together in the boat, they were conducted to a large area, or court-yard, on one fide of his house, where an entertainment was provided for them, confifting of wrestling. The chief fat at the upper end of the area, with feveral of his principal men on each fide of him, by way of judges, from whom the conquerors received applause.

Ten or twelve combatants entered the area, and after many fimple ceremonies of challenging each other, they engaged, endeavouring to throw one another by dint of ftrength; then feizing hold of each other by the thigh, the hand, the hair, or the clothes, they grappled without the leaft art till one was thrown on his back; this conqueft was applauded by fome words from the old men, and three huzzas.

A man with a stick, who made way for them when they landed, officiated here as mafter of the ceremonies, keeping order among the people.

When this entertainment was at an end, they were informed that fome hogs and a quantity of bread-fruit were preparing for their dinner; which intelligence was the more agreeable, as their appetites were at this time exceedingly keen. But instead of dining either on fhore or on board of the boat, they had the mortification of going as far as the fhip, by the defire of the chief.

As foon as the chief was known to be on board the ship, the people brought plenty of bread-fruit, cocoa-nuts, and other provifions to the fort.

On Tuesday 9th, in the forenoon Oborea paid them a vifit, accompanied by her favourite Obadee; fhe prefented them with a hog and fome bread-fruit.

The forge being now fet up, and frequently at work, became not only a new subject of admiration to the Indians, but afforded the captain an additional opportunity of conferring obligations on them, by permitting the fmith, during his leisure hours, to convert the old iron, which they were fuppofed to have procured from the Dolphin, into, different kinds of tools.

The natives, after repeated attempts, finding themselves incapable of pronouncing the names of the English gentlemen, had recourfe to new ones formed from their own language. Mr. Cook was named Toote; Hicks, Hete; Gore, Toura; Solander, To

3

lano;

lano; Banks, Opana; Green, Treene; and fo on for the greatest part of the fhip's

crew.

As Mr. Banks was fitting in his boat, trading with them as ufual, on Friday the 12th, a very extraordinary ceremony was performed by fome ladies who were strangers, to whom the rest of the Indians giving way on each fide, and forming a paffage, they advanced in proceffion towards Mr. Banks, to whom they prefented fome parrots feathers, plantains, and other plants. They then brought a large bundle of cloth, confifting of nine pieces, which being divided into three parcels, one of the women, who appeared to be the principal, ftepping on one of the parcels, pulled up all her clothes as high as her waift, and then, with an air of unaffected fimplicity, turned round three times. This ceremony fhe repeated in the fame manner on the other two parcels of cloth, and the whole being then prefented to Mr. Banks, the ladies went and faluted him; in return for which he made them fuch prefents as he thought would gratify

them the most.

in

The next evening Mr. Banks was under the difagreeable neceffity of reprimanding, very strong terms, Tubora Tumaida, for having the infolence to fnatch his gun from him, and firing it in the air; a thing which furprised Mr. Banks greatly, as he imagined him totally ignorant of the use of it. And as their fafety depended on keeping them in that ftate, he told him, with threats, that his touching his piece was the greatest of infults. The Indian made no reply, but fet off with his family to his houfe at Eparre. He being an useful man, Mr. Banks, accompanied by Mr. Molineux, thought fit to go after him, and they found him among a number of people, greatly dejected. However, as Mr. Banks judiciously caused all animofity to cease, they brought him back to fupper; after which, the chief and his wife both slept in Mr. Banks's tent. One of the natives, not intimidated by their prefence, attempted that very evening to fcale the walls of the fort, but was prevented by the fentinel. These Indians could not refift making attempts to steal the iron and iron tools within the works.

On the evening of the 14th, feveral of the officers were witneffes to an entertainment of a very extraordinary nature, which confifted of the most indecent acts of lewdnefs. For example, a young fellow cohabited in public with a girl about eleven or twelve years of age, without the leaft fenfe of fhame: and what is ftill more extraordinary, Oberea, with feveral other females of the first rank, were prefent during the whole time.

On Monday the 15th, Mr. Banks detected Tubora Tumaida in having stolen fome nails. Mr. Banks having a good opinion of this chief, was willing to put his fidelity to the teft, and feveral temptations were thrown in his way, among the reft a basket of nails, which proved irrefiftible. He confeffed the fact, and upon Mr. Banks's infisting upon reftitution, he declared the nails were at Eparre; this occafioned high words, and at length the Indian produced one of them. He was to have been forgiven upon reftoring the reft, but not having refolution to fulfil his engagement, he fled with his furniture and family before night.

On the 17th, one of the natives who came in the morning to fteal fome casks, it not being the first offence, the fentinel fnapped his gun at him, but, it miffing fire, he escaped. On the 27th of May, Tootahah being removed to a place called Atahourou, Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, Captain Cook, and fome others, fet out in the pinnace to pay him a vifit; after making prefents of a few trifling articles, they were invited to tay the night. Mr. Banks having accepted a place in Oberea's canoe, left his companions in order to retire to reft. Notwithstanding the care Oberea took of his clothes,

by

by having them in her own cuftody, they were ftolen, with his piftols, powder-horn, and many other things that were in his waistcoat pockets. The alarm was given to Tootahah, who flept in the next canoe, and who went with Oberea in fearch of the thief, leaving Mr. Banks with only his breeches on, and his musket uncharged. They foon returned, but without fuccefs; Mr. Banks thought proper to put up with the lofs for the prefent. He judged it now neceffary to get up and try to find his companions; he first went to the hut, where Captain Cook and three of his affociates lay, and began to relate his melancholy tale; but instead of receiving much comfort from them, he was told, that they had shared the fame fate, having loft their stockings and jackets.

In their return to the boats, they were greatly amufed by feeing fome Indiams fwimming for their diverfion, amidst a furf which no European boat could have lived in, or the best swimmer in Europe have faved himself from drowning, had he by accident been exposed to its fury.

Some Indians from a neighbouring ifland, to which Captain Wallis gave the name of Duke of York's Ifland, informed them of more than twenty islands in the neighbourhood of Otaheite.

They now began to make preparations for obferving the tranfit of Venus, and, from the hints which Captain Cook had received from the Royal Society, he fent out two parties to make obfervations from different fpots, that in cafe they failed at Otaheite, they might fucceed elsewhere; they employed themselves in preparing their inftruments, and instructing fuch gentlemen with the use of them, as were to go out. And on Thursday the 1ft of June, the next Saturday being the day of the tranfit, they sent the long boat to Eimayo, having on board Mr. Gore, Mr. Monkhouse, and Mr. Sporing, a friend of Mr. Banks; each furnished with neceffary inftruments by Mr. Green. Mr. Banks and feveral of the Indians went out with this party. Others were dispatched to find out a convenient fpot, at fuch a distance from their principal ftation, as might fuit their purpose.

Those who went to Eimayo in the long boat, after rowing beft part of the night, by the help of fome Indians on board a canoe, which they hailed, found a proper fituation for their obfervatory upon a rock, which rofe out of the water, about one hundred and forty yards from the fhore; where they fixed their tents, and prepared the apparatus for the following day's obfervation.

On Saturday, the 3d, as foon as it was light, Mr. Banks left them to go to the ifland for fresh provifions. As he was trading with the natives who belonged to Tarrao, the King of the island, His Majefty arrived with his fifter, whose name was Nuna, in order to pay him a vifit. It being cuftomary among these people to be feated during their conferences, Mr. Banks fpread on the ground his Indian cloth turban, that he wore instead of a hat, on which they all fat down. After this the royal prefent was brought, confifting of a hog, a dog, fome cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, &c. A meffenger was dispatched by Mr. Banks for an adze, a fhirt, and fome beads, and they were prefented to His Majefty, who received them with much pleasure. Tubora Tumaida and Tomio, Indians who had gone with Mr. Banks upon the expedition, came from the obfervatory: Tomio, faid to be related to Tarrao, brought him a long nail, and a fhirt for Nuna, by way of presents. Mr. Banks returned to the obfervatory with Tarrao, Nuna, and three beautiful young women, their chief attendants. He fhewed them the tranfit of Venus over the fun, and informed them, that he and his companions had come from their own country folely to view it in that fituation.

The