595
A very peculiar barbarifm prevails in thefe ifles. They obferved that the greater partof the people, both men and women, had loft one, or both their little fingers.* Theyendeavoured, but in vain, to find out the reafon of this mutilation ; for no one wouldtake any pains to inform them. It was neither peculiar to rank, age, or fex : nor isit done at any certain age, as they faw thofe of all ages on whom the amputation hadbeen juft made ; and, except fome young children, they found few who had bothhands perfedl. As it was more common among the aged than the young, fome wereof opinion that it was occafioned by the death of their parents or fome other near re-lation. But Mr. Wales one day met with a man, whofe hands were both perfect, offuch an advanced age, that it was hardly poffible his parents could be living. Theyalfo burn or make incifions in their cheeks, near the cheek-bone. The reafon of thiswas equally unknown. In fome, the wounds were quite frefh ; in others, they couldonly be known by the fears, or colour of the fkin. They all appeared healthy, ftrong,and vigorous; a proof of the goodnefs of the climate in which they live.
They made fail to the fouthward, having a gentle gale at fouth-eaft-by-eaft, it beingCaptain Cook’s intention to proceed dire&Iy to Queen Charlotte’s Sound in NewZealand , there to take in wood and water, and then to go on farther difeoveries to thefouth and eaft. He was very defirous of having fome intercourfe with the natives ofthis country, as far to the north as poffible; that is about Poverty or Tolaga Bays,where he apprehended they were more civilized than at Queen Charlotte’s Sound, in-order to give them fome hogs, fowls, feeds, roots, &c. which he had provided for thepurpofe. They arrived on the 21ft, and flood as near the fhore as they could withfafety. They obferved feveral people upon it, but none attempted to come off to{ hem. As foon as the Adventure was up with them, they made fail for Cape Kid-nappers, which they palled at five o’clock in the morning, and continued their courfealong-fhore till nine, when, being about three leagues ffiort of Black-head, they fawfome canoes put off from the fhore. Upon this they brought to, in order to give thembtne to come on board.
Thofe in the firft canoe, which came along-fide, were fifhers, and exchanged fomefffi for pieces of cloth and nails. In the next were two men who, by their drefs andbehaviour, feemed to be chiefs. Thefe two were eafily prevailed on to come on board,"'hen they were prefented-with nails and other articles. They were fo fond of nails, asto feize on all they could find, and with fuch eagernefs as plainly fhewed they were thetuoft valuable things they could give them. To the principal of thefe two men CaptainCook gave the pigs, fowls, feeds, and roots. At firft, he did not think it was meantto give them to him ; for he took but little notice of them, till he was fatisfied they"'ere for himfelf; nor was he then in fuch rapture as when he gave him a fpike-nail" a lf the length at his arm. However, at his going away, the captain took noticethat he /very well remembered how many pigs and fowls had been given him, as heto °k care to have them all collected together, and kept a watchful eye over them, left;ii| y ffiould be taken away. He made a promife not to kill any ; and if he keeps his} v °rd, and proper care is taken of them, there were enough to flock the whole iflandlri due time, being two boars, two fows, four hens, two cocks. The feeds were fuchas _are moft ufeful, viz. wheat, French and kidney beans, peafe, cabbage, turnips,° n jons, carrots, parfnips, yams, &c. With thefe articles they were difiniffed. It wasevi dent thefe people had not forgot the Endeavour being on their coaft ; for the firftv?0r ds they fpoke were, “ Mataou no te pow pow,” (We are afraid of the guns.) As they
r * This cuftora is" Ur les Americains,
not peculiar to the inhabitants of the Friendly Ifles.tom. ii. p. 253. See.
4 G 2
See Reclierchcs Philofophiquescould