The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
After we had done examining this place of worship, which in their
language is called A-fia-touca, we desired to return; but, instead of
conducting us to the water-side, as we expected, they struck into a road
leading into the country. This road which was about sixteen feet broad,
and as level as a bowling-green, seemed to be a very public one; there
being many other roads from different parts, leading into it, all
enclosed on each side, with neat fences made of reeds, and shaded from
the scorching sun by fruit trees. I thought I was transported into the
most fertile plains in Europe. There was not an inch of waste ground;
the roads occupied no more space than was absolutely necessary; the
fences did not take up above four inches each; and even this was not
wholly lost, for in many were planted some useful trees or plants. It
was every where the same; change of place altered not the scene. Nature,
assisted by a little art, no where appears in more splendor than at this
isle. In these delightful walks, we met numbers of people; some
travelling down to the ships with their burdens of fruit; others
returning back empty. They all gave us the road by turning either to the
right or left, and sitting down, or standing, with their backs to the
fences, till we had passed.
At several of the cross roads, or at the meeting of two or more roads,
were generally _Afiatoucas_, such as already described; with this
difference, the mounts were pallisadoed round, instead of a stone wall.
At length, after walking several miles, we came to one larger than
common; near to which was a large house belonging to an old chief in our
company. At this house we were desired to stop, which we accordingly
did, and were treated with fruit, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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