sable quality, is utterly renounced in the other. One of the girls who performed here, had in her ears three pearls, one of which was very large, but so foul that it was of little value. Nothing that was offered could induce her to part with them, and they were spoiled by drilling. Between the dances of the women, the men performed a kind of dramatic interlude, in which there was dialogue as well as dancing; but for want of knowing the language, the subject could not be traced. Whilst on this island, I received a present of the largest piece of cloth I had ever seen, it being fifty yards long, which came from the great king of Bolabola, whose name was Opoony; the title which he bore in the language of the country was earee rahie. This conqueror of Ulietea, and terror of all the neighbouring islands, happened at that time to be on his newly-acquired territory, which being signified to the gentlemen of the ship, they proceeded to pay their devoirs; but how great was their surprise, when, instead of being introduced to a personage young and vigorous, with an intelligent and glowing countenance, expressive of an enterprising spirit, they approached a poor feeble wretch, withered and decrepid, half blind with age, and absorbed in sluggishness and stupidity.

The strict notions which are entertained of private property in these islands, may be inferred from Tupia pointing out to me, on this western side of Ulietea, certain districts of land which he had possessed, until they were wrested from him by the Bolabolan conqueror; and the inhabitants bore witness to the validity of this claim. In this instance the minister of Oberea did not imitate her gentleHess and moderation; for when the ship was sailing

out of the harbour, Tupia strongly urged me to fire a shot towards Bolabola, although it was seven leagues distant; but it is highly probable that he did not know that the destruction caused by great guns was confined to a much shorter distance. I thought proper to comply with this request. Whilst the Endeavour continued about these islands, very little of the ship's provision was expended, a plentiful supply of hogs, fowls, plantains and yams, being obtained: but the accommodation which a considerable live stock was expected to yield in the course to the southward was not realized; for the hogs would not eat European grain of any kind, pulse or bread-dust; and all the fowls were soon seized with a disease, which caused them to hold down their heads between their legs, and in that posture they continued till they died. To these six islands, Ulietea, Otaha, Bolabola, Huabeine, Tubai and Maurua, as they lie contiguous to each other, I gave the general name of Society Islands, not choosing to distinguish them separately by any other names than those by which they were known to the natives. They lie between the latitude of 16° 10' and 16° 55′ S. and between the longitude of 150° 57'and 152°W. from the meridian of Greenwich. We quitted them on the 9th of August, 1769.

Continuing our course to the south-south-east, on the 13th we made an island, which was known to Tupia, and called by him Ohetoroa; but as the natives appeared very hostile, and could not be rendered less inimical by the interposition of Tupia, who conversed with them very intelligibly, and as neither harbour nor anchorage could be found, the circuit of the island was made, partly by the ship, and partly by the boat. It lies in latitude 22° 27′ S.

longitude 150 47' W. It is thirteen miles in circuit, rather high than low, but neither populous nor fertile, in proportion to the other islands that had been seen in those seas. On the 15th we quitted this island, and continued our course southwardly, in expectation of falling in with a continent which had ever been supposed to exist, and to which speculating geographers had given the name of Terra Australis Incognita. Having proceeded during ten days without any occurrence worth notice, on Friday, the 25th of August, they relieved the dreariness of their cruise in celebrating the anniversary of their leaving England, by taking a Cheshire cheese out of a locker, where it had been carefully treasured up for that occasion, and tapping a cask of porter, which proved to be very good, and in excellent order. On the 29th one of the boatswain's mates got so drunk by swallowing part of a bottle of brandy, which the boatswain had generously supplied him with, that the next morning he died. On the 30th a comet was seen, at one o'clock in the morning; it was a little above the horizon, in the eastern part of the heavens; at about half an hour past four it passed the meridian, and its tail subtended an angle of 42 degrees. We were then in latitude 38° 20′ S. longitude 147°6′ W. Among others who observed this phenomenon was Tupia, who instantly cried out, that as soon as it should be seen by the people of Bolabola, they would kill the inhabitants of Ulietea, who would with the utmost precipitation fly to the mountains.

On the 1st of September Mr. Cook quitted his southern course, being then passed the fortieth degree of latitude; then passing again to the southward, still keeping a western course, he came to

the latitude of thirty-nine degrees, nearly in which parallel he fell in with the coast of New Zealand. The first on board the ship who descried this welcome sight, was a boy, named Nicholas Young, after whom the commander called the projecting point of land there, Young Nick's Head. The country, as they approached within the distance of seven or eight leagues, appeared very extensive, and presented four or five ranges of hills, rising one over the other, and a chain of mountains above these, which appeared to be of a stupendous height. It soon became the general opinion that they had actually found the supposed continent. No water was to be obtained here but such as was brackish. Many of the natives appeared, whom Tupia addressed, and, to the great satisfaction of all on board, he was perfectly understood, as he and the natives were found to speak only different dialects of one common language: but the fierceness and animosity of these Indians were not to be mollified. Iron, which in the South Sea Islands had been found to be as effectual a conciliator of affection as gold elsewhere, was here held in no estimation, as not the smallest idea was conceived of its use. Their attacks were made in so formidable a manner, and muskets fired over their heads having no effect, the cockswain was at length obliged to discharge his piece at four men, who attempted to seize a boat, one of whom he shot through the heart. Notwithstanding which, Mt. Cook and a party, the next day, proceeding along the shore in a boat, to search for water, were so furiously assaulted by seven Indians in a canoe, that, after having fired over their heads without impressing them with any fear, the party was obliged, in self-defence, to avail them

selves to the utmost of their superiority, by which four of the Indians were slain. Two boys, who were in the canoe, were made prisoners, and by kind treatment and attention soon became perfectly easy and happy on board the ship. They were afterwards made use of to bring about a reconciliation between the natives and the strangers, and some presents were made; but not a single necessary could be procured, except wood, on which account Mr. Cook gave this place the name of Poverty Bay, and quitted it on the 12th.

It would be a tedious and unimportant employment to follow this persevering navigator minutely in his circuit of this country, in which he was employed six months within six days. Though he cannot claim the merit of having first discovered it, yet he has so accurately surveyed it, and, by a variety of observations made in different parts, has so exactly ascertained the latitude and longitude, that the fullest and most satisfactory information is obtained concerning a part of our globe, which it is highly probable may in future ages be colonized either from Europe or America, and become populous and considerable.

At first our navigator proceeded to the southward, but contrary winds constrained him to reverse his course, and trace the country to the northward. When he had weathered that promontory by which the eastern shores of New Zealand are bounded towards the north, and which received from him the name of Cape East, he proceeded along that side of the island which looks northward; here he had an opportunity of examining a very curious fortification, to which the natives retreat when they are invaded by a superior force of their enemies. It