Joseph Banks - Endeavour Journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0308
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[Page 308]
Otahite
11. Cocoa nuts were brought down so plentifully this morn that by ½ past 6 I had bought 350 this made it nescessary to drop the price of them least so many being brought at once we should exhaust the countrey & want be used by hereafter notwistanding I had before night bought more than a thousand at the rates of 6 for an amber coulourd bead 10 for a white one & 20 for a forty penny nail.
12. Cocoa nuts very plentifull this morning about breakfast time Dootahah visits us immediately after while I sat trading in the boat at the door of the fort a double Canoe came with several women & one man under the awning these the Indians round me made signs that I should go out & meet them by the time I had got out of the boat they were within ten yards of me the people made a lane from them to me they stopd & made signs for me to do the same the man in company with them had in his hand a large bunch of boughs he advancd towards me bringing two one a young plantain the other -- Tupia who stood by me acted as my deputy in receiving them & laying them down in the boat 6 times he passd backwards & forwards in the same manner & bringing the same present another man then came forward having in his arms a large bundle of cloth this he opend out & spread it peice by peice on the ground between the women & me it consisted on nine peices three were first laid the foremost of the women who seemd to be the principal then stepd upon them & quickly unveiling all her charms gave me a most convenient opportunity of admiring them by turning herself gradualy round 3 peices more were laid & she repeated her