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ground on which he fixed his tent, and the watering-place. They alfo met with Orette,a chief, who was their particular friend, whofe brother went away with M. Bougainville.
Having taken a furvey of this harbour, and a large bay near which it is fituated,they propofed going to the oppofite fide of the bay, but Titubaola, who was their con-ductor, not only refufed to accompany them, but endeavoured to diffuade the captainand Mr. Banks from going, faying, “ That country was inhabited by people whowere not fubjects to Tootahah, and who would deftroy them all.” This informationdid not, however, prevent the execution of their defign; and upon leading theirpieces with ball, Titubaola took courage to go with them. They rowed till it wasdark, when they reached a narrow neck of land that divided the ifiand into two pe-ninfulas, which are diftinCt governments. As they w r ere not yet got into the hoftilepart of the country, they agreed to fpend the night on fhore, where they were pro-vided with fupper and lodging by Ooratooa, the lady who paid her compliments toMr. Banks in fo remarkable a manner at the fort.
In the morning they purfued their paffage for the other government. They landed ina diftrict which was governed by a chief, named Maraitata, the “ burying-place of men,”and his father was called Pahairede, “ the ftealer of boats.” Notwithftanding theirnames were fo ominous, they gave the captain and Mr. Banks a very civil reception ;furnilhed them with provifions, and fold them a large hog for a hatchet. The curiofityof the natives was foon excited, and a crowd gathered round the Englifh gentlemen ;but they faw only two people whom they knew. They then advanced till they reachedthe diftriCt, which was under the dominion of the principal chief, or king, namedWaheatua, who had a fon ; but it was not known in whofe hands the fovereign powerWas lodged. Having continued their journey along the fhore for a confiderable way,they at Taft faw the chief, and with him an agreeable young woman about two-and-tvventy, named Toudidde. They were not unacquainted with her name, as they hadoften heard it mentioned by the natives 5 and they had great reafon to fuppofe flie wasthe Oueen of this peninfula.
Inpaffing through this part of the ifiand, they found it better cultivated, and moreimproved than any they had hitherto met with; though the houfes were but few, andthofe very fmall, yet there were a great number of canoes which excelled any they hadfeen, both in fize and workmanfhip. Notwithftanding the fertility of the country,provifion of every kind was very fcarce.
Towards the fouthernmoft part of the ifiand they found a good harbour, formed bya reef, and the circumjacent country remarkably fruitful.
They landed again a little further to the eaft. Mathiabo, the chief, with whom theyfrad no acquaintance, nor had ever feen before, foon came to them, and fupplied themwith cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit. They purchafed a hog for a glafs-bottle, which hetook in preference to every other thing that was offered him. They faw here a turkey-cock and a goofe, which the Dolphin left on the ifiand 5 they were remarkably fat, andfoemed to be greatly admired by the Indians.
A very uncommon fight presented itfelf in a houfe near this place ; feveral human,jaw-bones were faftened to a board of a femicircular form ; they feemed frefh, and hadloft any of their teeth. Mr. Banks could obtain no explanation of this myftery.lhey quitted this place, and arrived in a bay on the north-weft fide.
Several canoes came off here with fome very beautiful women, who appeared to befiefirous of their going on (hore, to which they readily affented. 1 hey met with afriendly reception from the chief, whofe name was Wiverou, who gave directions tofome of his people to aflift them in drefling their provifions, which were now veryv °l. xi. 3 u plentiful,