Accordingly, at day-light, we prepared for the attack.  Those who had reconnoitred the place before, chose their stations accordingly; whilst myself and another remained in the boat, and rowed to the head of the cove to start the game, which we did so effectually, that, out of some scores of ducks, we only detained one to ourselves, sending all the rest down to those stationed below.  After this I landed at the head of the cove, and walked across the narrow isthmus that disjoins it from the sea, or rather from another cove which runs in from the sea about one mile, and lies open to the north winds.  It, however, had all the appearance of a good harbour and safe anchorage.  At the head is a fine sandy beach, where I found an immense number of wood hens, and brought away ten couple of them, which recompensed me for the trouble of crossing the isthmus, through the wet woods, up to the middle in water.  About nine o’clock we all got collected together, when the success of everyone was known, which was by no means answerable to our expectations.  The morning, indeed, was very unfavourable for shooting, being rainy the most of the time we were out.  After breakfast we set out on our return to the ship, which we reached by seven o’clock in the evening, with about seven dozen of wild fowl, and two seals; the most of them shot while I was rowing about, exploring the harbours and coves which I found in my way; every place affording something, especially to us, to whom nothing came amiss.

It rained all the 17th, but the 18th bringing fair and clear weather, in the evening our friends, the natives before-mentioned, paid us another visit; and, the next morning, the chief and his daughter were induced to come on board, while the others went out in the canoe fishing.  Before they came on board I shewed them our goats and sheep that were on shore, which they viewed for a moment with a kind of stupid insensibility.  After this I conducted them to the brow; but before the chief set his foot upon it to come into the ship, he took a small green branch in his hand, with which he struck the ship’s side several times, repeating a speech or prayer.  When this was over, he threw the branch into the main chains, and came on board.  This custom and manner of making peace, as it were, is practised by all the nations in the South Seas that I have seen.

I took them both down into the cabin, where we were to breakfast.  They sat at table with us, but would not taste any of our victuals.  The chief wanted to know where we slept, and indeed to pry into every corner of the cabin, every part of which he viewed with some surprise.  But it was not possible to fix his attention to any one thing a single moment.  The works of art appeared to him in the same light as those of nature, and were as far removed beyond his comprehension.  What seemed to strike them most was the number and strength of our decks, and other parts of the ship.  The chief, before he came aboard, presented me with a piece of cloth and a green talc hatchet; to Mr Forster he also gave a piece or cloth; and the girl gave another to Mr Hodges.  This custom of making presents before they receive any, is common with the natives of the South Sea isles; but I never saw it practised in New Zealand before.  Of all the various articles I gave my guest, hatchets and spike-nails were the most valuable in his eyes.