On 13th July the Endeavour sailed for Huaheine, anchoring inside the reef on the north-west, on the 17th.  Banks, Solander, Monkhouse, and Tupia at once accompanied Cook ashore, where a ceremony, presumed to be a sort of treaty of peace, was gone through, and then they were permitted to go where they liked.  On this ceremonial Cook says: 

“It further appear’d that the things which Tupia gave away, was for the God of this people, as they gave us a hog and some coconuts for our God, and thus they have certainly drawn us in to commit sacrilege, for the Hog hath already received sentence of Death and is to be dissected tomorrow.”

A careful pilot.

A market was organised by Monkhouse, and as soon as the natives understood that the stay of the ship would be very short, they managed to produce a fairly good supply of fruits and vegetables.  The people were found to be rather lighter complexioned, and certainly not so addicted to thieving as the Otaheitans.  As a memorial of the visit, Cook gave the chief a plate with the inscription, “His Britannick Majesty’s Ship, Endeavour, Lieutenant Cook, Commander, 16th July, 1769, Huaheine.”  He also added “some medals, or counters of the English coins, struck in 1761, and other presents,” and the recipient promised he would never part with them.  From this place they went on to Ulietea (Raiatea), landing on the 21st; and after another ceremonial the English “Jack” was hoisted, and possession taken of the whole group in the name of King George.  Tupia proved himself an excellent pilot, with great knowledge of the localities, and, having sent down a diver at Huaheine to ascertain the exact draught of the ship, he was very careful she never went into less than five fathoms of water.  He had evidently had great experience in navigating these seas in canoes, boats of whose construction and sailing qualities Cook speaks in the highest terms.  Banks at this time remarks, “we have now seen 17 islands in these seas, and have landed on five of the most important; the language, manners and customs agreed most exactly.”

Detained by adverse wind off Ataha, and finding the water coming badly into the fore sail-room and powder-room, Cook put into the west side to repair and take in ballast, as the ship was getting too light to carry sail on a wind.  He took the opportunity to survey to the north with Banks and Solander.  Putting into one place, they were well received and entertained with music and dancing, and Cook’s verdict was that “neither their Musick or Dancing were at all calculated to please a European.”  A sort of farce was also acted, but they could make nothing of it, except that it “showed that these people have a notion of Dramatic Performances.”

During the whole stay in the Society Group they had been very well off for fresh food, consequently their sea stores had been little called on.