626

CAPTAIN COOK’S SECOND VOYAGE.

fell at this time was a compound of water, fand, and earth ; fo that it properly mightbe called fhowers of mire. Whichever way the wind was, they were annoyed by theafhes, unlefs it blew very flrong indeed from the oppofite direction. Notwithftanding thenatives feemed well enough fatisfied with the few expeditions they had made in theneighbourhood, they were unwilling they Ihould extend them farther. As a proof ofthis, fome undertook to guide the gentlemen when they were in the country,to a place where they might fee the mouth of the volcano. They very readilyembraced the offer; and were conducted down to the harbour before they perceivedthe cheat.

The 13th, wind at north-eafl, gloomy weather. The only thing worthy of notethis day, was, that Paowang being at dinner with them on board, they took theopportunity to fhew him feveral parts of the fhip, and various articles, in hopes offinding out fomething which he might value, and be induced to take in exchange forrefrefhments; for what they had got of this kind was trifling. But he looked onevery thing that was fliewn him with the utmofl indifference j nor did he take noticeof any thing except a wooden fand-box, which he feemed to admire, and turned twoor three times over in his hand.

Next morning after breakfaff, a party of them fet out for the country, to try if theycould not get a nearer and better view of the volcano. The place affected by the hea_twas not above eight or ten yards fquare; and near it were fome fig-trees, which fpreadtheir branches over a part of it, and feemed to like their fituation. It was thoughtthat this extraordinary heat was caufed by the fleam of boiling water ftrongly lin "pregnated with fulphur. They proceeded up the hill through a country fo coveredwith trees, fhrubs, and plants, that the bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees, which feem tohave been planted here by nature, were in a manner choaked up. Here and therethey met with a houfe, fome few people, and plantations. Thefe latter they found,in different flates ; fome of long Handing; others lately cleared; and fome onlyclearing, and before any thing had been planted.—Happening to turn out of thecommon path, they came into a plantation where they found a man at work, who,either out of good nature, or to get them the fooner out of his territories, undertookto be their guide. They followed him accordingly 5 but had not gone far before theycame to the junction of two roads, in one of which flood another man with a lh n Sand a flone, which he thought proper to lay down when a mufquet was pointed athim. The attitude in which they found him, the ferocity appearing in his looks, anhis behaviour after, convinced them that he meant to defend the path he flood in. He,in fome meafure, gained his point; for the guide took the other road, and they folio we ,but not without fufpedling he was leading them out of the common way. T- he otherman went with them likewife, counting them feveral times over, and hallooing, as theyjudged, for aflifiance; for they were prefently joined by two or three more, amongwhom was a young woman with a club in her hand. By thefe people they w eiecondufted to the brow of a hill, and fliewn a road leading down to the harbour,which they wanted them to take. Not choofing to comply, they returned t0 l iathey had left, which they purfued alone, their guide refufing to go with them. A teafcending another ridge, as thickly covered with wood as thofe they had come ovei,they faw yet other hills between them and the volcano, which feemed as far off astheir firfl fetting out. This difcouraged them from proceeding farther, efpecially .they could get no one to be their guide. They therefore came to a refolution to return^,and had but juft put this in execution when they met between twenty and thirty

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