noes at once came off, each
bringing a woman and a pig--the one as a mark of confidence, the other
as a present. The ladies each received a spike-nail and some beads,
greatly to their delight. On landing, the Union-Jack was hoisted, and
the three islands in sight taken possession of in the name of his
Britannic Majesty. Here was a large morai, called Tapodeboatea, which
was visited, and found to be different from those of Otaheite. It
consisted only of four walls, eight feet high, built of coral stones--
some of immense size--enclosing an area of five-and-twenty yards square,
filled up with smaller stones. On the top of it many carved planks were
set on end, and at a little distance was an altar, on which lay a hog of
about eighty pounds weight, roasted whole, supposed to have been a
sacrifice. Round it were four or five arks resting on poles like that
seen at Huaheine. In the interior of one of them Mr Banks found a
package done up tightly in mats. He had opened several folds, but the
last resisted all his attempts; and as he saw that his proceeding gave
great offence, he was compelled to desist. Not far off was a long
house, where, among rolls of cloth, was the model of a canoe, about
three feet long, to which were tied eight human jaw-bones. Other
jaw-bones were seen near the ark, and Tupia affirmed that they were
those of natives of the island.

Bad weather detained the ship in the harbour of Oopoa for two more days,
and when at length she got out, she was in imminent danger of striking
on a reef, having got unexpectedly close to the edge of one, which was
discovered from the water being shallow on one side, though deep enough
under the keel to float her. Some time was expended in endeavouring to
beat up to an anchorage off Bolabola, and several smaller islands were
visited.

A leak having been discovered, and some more ballast being required,
Captain Cook put into a harbour in Ulietea, at the opposite side of the
island to that he had before visited. While the ship's company were
taking in ballast and water, Mr Banks and Dr Solander went on shore,
and were everywhere received with the greatest respect by the natives,
who seemed conscious that their white visitors had the power, though not
the desire, to do them every possible harm. Men, women, and children
crowded round them, and followed them wherever they went; but no one was
guilty of the least incivility. On the contrary, the men vied with each