with as much good-will as if
they had neither quarrelled nor fought. The queen of the island visited
the ship, and from that time till the _Dolphin_ left everything went
smoothly.

The ignorance of the natives as to the relative value of various metals
was curiously shown one day. In order to find out what things they
liked best, Captain Wallis spread before them a coin called a johannes,
a guinea, a crown piece, a Spanish dollar, a few shillings, some new
halfpence, and two large nails, and made a sign to them to help
themselves. The nails were first seized with great eagerness, and then
a few of the glittering new halfpence, but the silver and gold lay
neglected!

The friendship thus established continued to increase as long as Wallis
remained there, and when at length he took his departure the natives
exhibited every sign of extreme regret--the queen especially was
inconsolable, and wept bitterly when she bade them farewell.

Such were a few of the scenes that occurred at the discovery of Tahiti,
an island which has since become famous as the scene of the residence of
the mutineers of the _Bounty_, and the field of much earnest and deeply
interesting missionary labour.

CHAPTER SIX.

CAPTAIN COOK'S VISIT TO TAHITI.

Less than two years after the discovery of Tahiti by Wallis, Captain
Cook arrived in the _Endeavour_ at the same island. He first saw its
high mountains rise on the horizon on the 11th of June 1769, and soon
afterwards a few canoes came off to the ship, but the natives were timid
at first. They evidently had not forgotten the thundering guns and
crashing shot of the _Dolphin_.

In every canoe there were young plantains and branches of trees, which
latter were intended as tokens of peace and friendship. The people in
one of the canoes ventured to the ship, and handed these branches up the
side, making signals at the same time with great earnestness. At first
the sailors were unable to make out their meaning, but at length,
guessing that they wished those symbols to be placed in some conspicuous
part of the ship, they immediately stuck them about the rigging, upon
which the natives expressed the greatest satisfaction. Cook then
purchased the cargoes of the canoes, consisting of cocoa-nuts and
various kinds of fruits, which, after their long voyage, were most
acceptable.

Next morning the _Endeavour_ was safely anchored in a bay called by the
natives Matavai. Here the visitors were r