5°9
lano; Banks , Opana; Green, Treene; and fo on for the greateft part of the (hip’screw.
As Mr. Banks was fitting in his boat, trading with them as ufual, on Friday the12th, a very extraordinary ceremony was performed, by fome ladies who were ftrangers,to whom the reft of the Indians giving way on each fide, and forming a palfage, theyadvanced in proceffion towards Mr. Banks , to whom they prefented fome parrots fea-thers, plantains, and other plants. They then brought a large bundle of cloth, con-fifting of nine pieces, which being divided into three parcels, one of the women, whoappeared to be the principal, ftepping on one of the parcels, pulled up all her clothesas high as her waift, and then, with an air of unaffected fimplicity, turned round threetimes. This ceremony Ihe repeated in the fame manner on the other two parcels ofcloth, and the whole being then prefented to Mr. Banks , the ladies went and falutedhim; in return for which he made them fueh prefents as he thought would gratifythem the moll.
The next evening Mr. Banks was under the difagreeable neceflity of reprimanding^in very ftrong terms, TuboraTumaida, for having the infolence tofnatch his gun from-him, and firing it in the air ; a thing which furprifed Mr. Banks greatly, as he imaginedhim totally ignorant of the ufe of it. And as their fafety depended on keeping themin that ftate, he told him, with threats, that his touching his piece was the greateft ofinfults. The Indian made no reply, but fet off with his family to his houfe at Eparre.He being an ufeful man, Mr. Banks , accompanied by Mr. Molineux, thought fit to goafter him, and they found him among a number of people, greatly dejedted. How-ever, as Mr. Banks judicioully caufed all animofity to ceafe, they brought him back to(upper ; after which, the chief and his wife both flept 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. Thefe Indians could not refift making;attempts to fteal the iron and iron tools within the works.
On the evening of the 14th, feveral of the officers were witneffes to an entertain-ment of a very extraordinary nature, which confided of the mod indecent acts of lewd-nefs. For example, a young fellow cohabited in public with a girl about eleven ortwelve years of age, without the leaft fenfe of ffiame: and what is ftill more extraor-dinary, Oberea, with feveral other females of the firft rank, were prefent during thewhole time.
On Monday the 15th, Mr. Banks detected TuboraTumaida in having ftolen fomenails. Mr. Banks having a good opinion of this chief, was willing to put his fidelity
the teft, and feveral temptations were thrown in his way, among the reft a bafket ofnails, which proved irrefiftible. He confeffed the fact, and upon Mr. Banks ’s infillingu pon 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 uponr °ftofing the reft, but not having refolution to fulfil his engagement, he fled with hisGarniture and family before night.
On the 17th, one of the natives who came in the morning to Heal fome calks, it notbeing the firft offence, the fentinel fnapped his gun at him, but, it miffing fire, he efcaped.
On the 27th of May, Tootahah being removed to a place called Atahourou,Banks, Dr. Solander, Captain Cook , and fome others, fet out in the pinnace toP a y him a vifit; after making prefents of a few trifling articles, they were invited toftay the night. Mr. Banks having accepted a place in Oberea’s canoe, left his compa-nions in order to retire to reft. Notwithftanding the care Oberea took of his clothes,
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