The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
This island is scarcely accessible by boats, on account of coral reefs
that surround it. It is not more than a mile and half, or two miles,
long; and not so broad. The north west end of it is low, like the
islands of Hapaee; but it rises suddenly in the middle, and terminates
in reddish clayey cliffs, at the south-east end, about thirty feet high.
The soil, in that quarter, is of the same sort as in the cliffs; but, in
the other parts, it is a loose, black mould. It produces the same fruits
and roots which we found at the other islands; is tolerably cultivated,
but thinly inhabited. While I was walking all over it, our people were
employed in cutting some grass for the cattle; and we planted some melon
seeds, with which the natives seemed much pleased, and inclosed them
with branches. On our return to the boat, we passed by two or three
ponds of dirty water, which was more or less brackish in each of them;
and saw one of their burying-places, which was much neater than those
that were met with at Hapaee.
On the 4th, at seven in the morning, we weighed; and, with a fresh gale
at east south-east, stood away for Annamooka, where we anchored, next
morning, nearly in the same station which we had so lately occupied.
I went on shore soon after, and found the inhabitants very busy in their
plantations, digging up yams to bring to market; and, in the course of
the day, about two hundred of them had assembled on the beach, and
traded with as much eagerness as during our late visit. Their stock
appeared to have been recruited much, though we had returned so soon;
but, instead of bread-fruit, which was the only article we could
purchase on our first arrival, nothing was to be seen now but yams, and
a few plantains. This shows the quick succession of the seasons, at
least of the different vegetables produced here, at the several times of
the year. It appeared also that they had been very busy, while we were
absent, in cultivating; for we now saw several large plantain fields, in
places which we had, so lately seen lying waste. The yams were now in
the greatest perfection; and we procured a good quantity, in exchanges
for pieces of iron.
These people in the absence of Toobou, whom we left behind us, at Kotoo,
with Poulaho and the other chiefs, seemed to be under little
subordination. For we could not perceive, this day, that one man assumed
more authority than another. Before I returned on board, I visited the
several places where I had sown melon seeds, and had the mortification
to find, that most of them were destroyed by a small ant; but some
pine-apple plants, which I had also left, were in a thriving state.
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