Joseph Banks - Endeavour Journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0322
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[Page 322]
Imao
on purpose to see it after this they went back & myself with them I spent the rest of the day in examining the produce &c. of the Island & found it very nearly similar to that of Otahite the people exactly the same indeed we saw many of the Identical same people as we had often seen at Otahite & every one knew well every kind of trade we had & the value it bore in that Island. The hills in general came nearer to the water & flats were consequently less & less Fertile than at Otahite the low point near which we lay was composd intirely of sand & coral here neither Bread fruit nor any usefull vegetables would grow it was coverd over with Pandanus tectorius & among with these grew several plants we had not seen at Otahite among them Iberis which Mr Gore tells me is the plant calld by the voyagers scurvy grass which grows plentifully upon all the low Islands
At sunset I came off having purchasd another hog from the King soon after my arrival at the tent 3 hansome girls came off in a canoe to see us they had been at the tent in the morning with Tarroa they chatted with us very freely & with very little perswasion agreed to send away their carriage & sleep in tent a proof of confidence which I have not before met with upon so short an acquaintance
4. We prepard ourselves to depart in spite of the intreaties of our fair companions who persuaded us much to stay. What with presents & trade our stock of Provisions was so large that we were obligd to give away a large quantity. This done we put off & before night arrivd at the tents where we had the great satisfaction that the observation there had been attended with as much