observations, at Ship Cove; and from the result of his observations, our navigator found, and candidly acknowledges, that in his chart of New Zealand, he had laid down the southern island about 40' too far east; while the northern part of the country was found to be laid down with much more correctness.
Among the natives who visited the Cove, was a man of some note, named Pedero, who presented Capt. Cook with a staff of honour, such as the chiefs generally carry. In return, the Captain dressed him in a suit of old clothes, of which he was not a little proud. He had a fine personal appearance, and but for his colour, might have passed for a European. He dined on board, on the 6th, partook of every thing at table, and drank more wine than any one present, without being affected by it. On the 9th, when he and his people brought a large supply of fish, the Captain gave him an empty oil jar, which made him as happy as a prince. In the afternoon, the Captain, with a party, went into one of the coves, where two families of natives were variously employed. While some were roasting fish and fir roots, a girl was heating stones; and this being an unusual thing, the party remained to see what was to be done with them. She gave them, when heated, to an old woman who was sitting in the hut. The latter placed them in a heap, laid over them a handful of green celery, which she covered with a coarse mat; and then squatted herself down on the top of all; thus making a kind of Dutch warming-pan, on which she sat as close as a hare on her seat. This she appeared to do for a medicinal purpose, especially as she looked sickly or diseased.
