CAPTAIN COOK S FIRST VOYAGE. 503

canoe had m it young plantains, and branches of trees, as tokens of peace and friend-Ihip ; and they were handed up the Tides of the (hip by the people in one of the canoes,"who made fignals in a very expreffive manner, intimating, that they defired thefe em-blems of pacification fhould be placed in a confpicuous part of the lhip : and they wereaccordingly ftuck among the rigging, at which they tefiified their approbation. Theircargoes confined of cocoa-nuts, bananas, bread-fruit, apples and figs, which werevery acceptable to the crew, and were then purchafed.

In the evening they opened the north-weft point, and faw York Ifland, fo named bythe crew of the Dolphin . They lay off and on all night, and in the morning of the1 3th they entered Port Royal Harbour, in the ifland of Otaheite , and anchored withinhalf a mile of the fliore. A great number of the natives immediately came off in theircanoes, bringing with them bananas, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, apples, and foine hogs,which they bartered with the (hip’s crew for beads and other trinkets.

The tree that bears the bread-fruit is about the fize of the horfe chefnut; its leavesare near a foot and a half long, in fhape oblong, relembling, in almoft every refpedf,thofe of the fig-tree; its fruit is not unlike the Cantaloupe melon, either in fize orftiape ; it is inclofed in a thin (kin, and its core is as large as a perfon’s thumb; it isfomewhat of the confiftency of new bread, and as white as the blanched almond •, itdivides into parts, and they roa(t it before it is eaten; it has little or no tafte. Andderly man, named Owhaw, who was known to Mr. Gore and others, who had vifitedftfts ifland with Captain Wallis, came on board ; and as he was confidered a ufeful man,the captain endeavoured to gratify all his enquiries. Captain Cook now drew up feveraltteceflary rules for the regulation of traffic with the inhabitants, and ordered that theyftould be punctually obferved.

When the (hip was properly fecured, the captain went on (hore with Mr. Banks andSolander, a party under arms, and their friend the old Indian. They werereceived on (hore by fome hundreds of the natives, who were (truck with fuch awe,l hat the firft who approached crept almoft upon his hands and knees. He alfo pre-sented to them branches of trees, the ufual fymbol of peace. This fymbol was received,the part of the Engli(h gentlemen, with demonftrations of fatisfadtion and friend-ijnp ; and noticing, that each of the Indians held one of thefe branches in his hand,hey gathered fome, and followed the example of the natives. >.

ft hey were conduced by the old Indian, accompanied by his countrymen, towardsh. e place where the Dolphin had watered. Here, the ground being cleared, the chiefsthe natives threw down their boughs, and the captain and his companions followedhe example, after having drawn up the marines, who, marching in order, droppedheir branches upon thofe of the Indians. When they came to the watering-place, ther , ians intimated that they had their permiffion to occupy that ground, but it was notited to their purpofe. In the courfe of this walk, and a circuit through the woods,he Indians had got rid of their timidity, and became familiarized. On the way theydeceived beads and other fmall prefents, at which they exprefled great pleafure.

1 he whole circuit was near four miles, through groves, confiding of trees of cocoa-uts and b rea d_f ru it; beneath which trees were the habitations of the natives, con-1 ,! n g of only a roof, deftitute of walls. In this peregrination the gentlemen were notfu ^^ a PP°’ nte ^ at finding very few fowls or hogs. Captain Cook was informed byc h of the party as had been here with the Dolphin , that none of the people hithertot ^ en Wer e of the firft rank, and they imagined the Oueen’s refidence was moved, noa ^ a ces remaining of it. Next morning, before they left the (hip, feveral canoes came°ut her, filled with people, whofe drefs denoted them of the fuperior clafs : two of

8 thefe