eceived with much kindness.
The natives regarded them with great respect and awe; the first man who
approached them crouching so low that he almost crept on his hands and
knees. Then two of the chiefs came forward, and each selected his
friend. One chose Cook, and the other selected Mr Banks, and each,
taking off the greater part of his clothes, put them solemnly on his
chosen friend.

On visiting their houses afterwards, they passed through delightful
groves of trees which were loaded with cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit.
These were found to be most excellent food. Before becoming quite ripe
the liquid inside the cocoa-nut is said to resemble lemonade, when riper
it is more like milk; and the bread-fruit nut, when properly dressed, is
like the crumb of wheaten bread; so that it may be said of those
favoured regions, with some degree of truth, that the people find
something like bread and milk growing on the trees! There is indeed
little occasion there for men to work. The fruits of the earth grow
luxuriantly in a wild state; hence the natives, although a strong and
active race, are habitually indolent. It has been proved, however, that
when the blessed influence of the Christian religion is brought to bear
on them, the South-Sea islanders are, in mind and body, good specimens
of mankind.

One of the houses visited by Cook, in company with Messrs. Banks and
Monkhouse, Dr Solander and others, on his first landing, was that of
Tootahah, a middle-aged man, who seemed to be a person of rank. He
received them hospitably, spread mats for the party, desired them to sit
down by his side, and gave them an excellent dinner of bread-fruit,
cocoa-nuts, plantains, and fish--the latter raw as well as dressed.
Cook naturally preferred his fish cooked, but the natives seemed to
relish it raw! Thereafter Tootahah presented Mr Banks and Captain Cook
with a cock and hen, which curious gifts they accepted with many thanks,
and in return gave Tootahah a laced silk neckcloth and a pocket
handkerchief, in which he immediately dressed himself with immense
satisfaction. Mr Banks seems to have been a favourite with the savage
ladies, for they plied him earnestly with cocoa-nut milk. He, as well
as Cook, received a further gift of native cloth, which, although rough
in texture, was agreeably perfumed.

Beads and other ornaments were presented to the women, and altogether
the new friends were becoming mutually delighted with each other whe