they landed at a straggling village, where were some well cultivated plantations of sugar-canes, yams, plantains, cocoa-nuts, and taro roots; and these plantations, particularly the rows of taro root, were watered by little rills, carefully led hither by art, from a stream that decended from the hills. Some roots were baking on a fire, in an earthen jar, capable of holding six or eight gallons. In going up the creek, which was beset with mangroves, Mr. Forster shot a duck, which was the first use of fire-arms this people saw: the Captain's friend begged to have it, and on landing, told his countrymen in what way it was killed. The country being generally barren, the natives could not be expected to bring large supplies; and among the hundreds that visited the ship next day, not one brought any eatables, except this friend, who presented a few roots. Others exchanged clubs and darts, for nails and pieces of cloth. On the 6th, Lieutenant Pickersgill found out a better watering place, nearer the ship; where plentiful supplies of wood could also be got. This day, the ship's butcher, Simon Monk, a man much esteemed, died in consequence of having fallen down the forehatchway, the night preceding.
In the morning of the 7th, the Captain and a party of friends took an excursion through the country, and ascended some hills in the neighbourhood, from whence they saw another ridge of hills running parallel to this; and between the two ridges, a large valley, where flowed a serpentine river, on the banks of which were villages and plantations. Through two openings in the opposite ridge, the sea was visible; and the entire breadth of the island at this place was found not to exceed
