57 2
On the 17th, two'of the natives, the chief and his daughter, ventured on board ;the captain took them both down into the cabin, where they were to breakfaft. Theyfet at table, but would not tafte any of the vi&uals. The chief wanted to know wherethe captain llept, and indeed to pry into every corner of the cabin, all parts of whichhe viewed with fome furprife. But it was not poffible to fix his attention to any onething a fingle moment. The works of art appeared to him in the fame light as thofeof nature, and were as far removed beyond his comprehenfion. What feemed to ftrikethem mod was the number and ftrength of the decks, and other parts of the (hip. Thechief before he came aboard, prefented the captain with a piece of cloth and a greentalc hatchet - r to Mr. Fofter he alfo gave a piece of cloth } and the girl gave another toMr. Hodges. This cuflom of making prefents, before they receive any, is commonwith the natives of the South Sea iftands ; but they never faw it practifed in New Zea-land before. Of all the various articles which were given to the chief, hatchets andfpike-nails were the moll valuable in his eyes. Thefe he never would fuffer to go outof his hands after he had once laid hold of them ; whereas many other articles heWould lay carelefsly down any where, and at laft leave them behind him.
On the 20th, they went alhore to examine the head of the bay, and in their way fawfome ducks, which, by their creeping through the bulhes, they got a (hot at, and killedone. The moment they had fired, the natives, who were not difcovered before, fetup a molt hideous noife in two or three places clofe by them, and they kept up theirclamouring noife, but did not follow them. Indeed they found, afterwards, that theycould not ; becaufe of a branch of the river between them. The falling tide obliged themto retire out of the river to the place where they had fpent the night. There they break-failed, and afterwards embarked. Juft as the captain was returning on board, he fawtwo men on the oppofite Ihore, hallooing to him, which induced him to row overto them. He landed, with two others, unarmed; the two natives Handing about onehundred yards from the water fide, with each a fpear in his hand. When the threeadvanced, they retired ; but flood when the captain advanced alone..
It was fome little time before they could be prevailed upon to lay down their fpears.This, at laft, one of them did ; and met the captain with a grafs plant in his hand, oneend of which he gave him to hold, while he held the other. Standing in this manner,he began a fpeech, not one word of which was underftood ; and made fome longpaufes. As foon as this ceremony was over, which was not long, they faluted eachother. He then took his hahow, or coat, from off his own back, and put it uponthe captain; after which peace feemed firmly eftablilhed. More of his people joiningdid not in the leaft alarm them; on the contrary, they faluted every one as theycame up.
Other people were feen in the Ikirts of the wood, but none of them joined; P r0 "bably thefe were their wives and children. ^
When they took leave, the natives followed them to their boat, and feeing the mu-quets lying acrofs the Hern, they made figns for them to be taken away, whichdone, they came along-fide, and affilled to launch her. At this time it was necel aryto look well after them, for they wanted to take away every thing they could ^ vhands upon except the mufquets. Thefe they took care not to touch, being taught ythe flaughter they had feen made among the wild fowl, to look upon them as mimentsof death. # hey
In the afternoon of the 21ft, they went a feal hunting. The furf ran fo high that jcould only land in one place, where they killed ten. Thefe animals ferved three ppofes; the Ikins were made ufe of for the rigging} the fat gave oil for their lamps}