The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.Cook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
It was now calm; but the anchor was hardly at the bow before a breeze
sprung up at north, of which we took the advantage, set our sails, and
plyed out of the bay, as it did not seem capable of supplying our wants,
with that conveniency I wished to have. Besides, I always had it in my
power to return to this place, in case I should find none more
convenient farther south.
These islanders seemed to be a different race from those of Mallicollo,
and spoke a different language. They are of the middle size, have a good
shape, and tolerable features. Their colour is very dark, and they paint
their faces, some with black, and others with red pigment. Their hair is
very curly and crisp, and somewhat woolly. I saw a few women, and I
thought them ugly; they wore a kind of petticoat made of palm leaves, or
some plant like it. But the men, like those of Mallicollo, were in a
manner naked; having only the belt about the waist, and the piece of
cloth, or leaf, used as a wrapper.[5] I saw no canoes with these people,
nor were any seen in any part of this island. They live in houses
covered with thatch, and their plantations are laid out by line, and
fenced round.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, we were clear of the bay, bore up round
the head, and steered S. S. E. for the south end of the island, having a
fine breeze at N. W. On the S. W. side of the head is a pretty deep bay,
which seemed to run in behind the one on the N. W. side. Its shores are
low, and the adjacent lands appeared very fertile. It is exposed to the
S. E. winds; for which reason, until it be better known, the N. W. bay
is preferable, because it is sheltered from the reigning winds; and the
winds to which it is open, viz. from N. W. by N. to E. by N. seldom blow
strong. The promontory, or peninsula, which disjoins these two bays, I
named Traitor’s Head, from the treacherous behaviour of its inhabitants.
It is the N. E. point of the island, situated in the latitude 18° 43ʹ
south, longitude 169° 28ʹ east, and terminates in a saddle hill which is
of height sufficient to be seen sixteen or eighteen leagues. As we
advanced to S. S. E., the new island we had before discovered began to
appear over the S. E. point of the one near us, bearing S. 1/2 E.
distant ten or twelve leagues. After leaving this one, we steered for
the East end of the other, being directed by a great light we saw upon
it.
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