Joseph Banks - Endeavour Journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0384
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[Page 384]
Ulhietea
our course towards the Heiva & at last came up to it it has gradualy moved from very near us till now it is 2 Leagues off, Tupia tells us that it will in this manner move gradualy round the Island our Freinds receivd us as usual with all manner of civility dancing & giving us after the amusement a very good dinner as well as offering us a quantity of their Cloth by way of present which we should have accepted had we not been full stockd with it before We now understood a little more of the interludes than we had formerly done I shall describe one as well as I can. The men dancers were divided into two parties differing in the colour of their clothes one brown the other white The cheif of the brown ones gave a basket of meat to the rest his servants that they might take care of it the white represented theives who atempted to steal it several times dancing all the time Several different expedients they make use of without success till at last they found the watchmen asleep they then gently go went up to them & lifting them off from the basket which for security sake they had placd in the middle of them they go went off with their prize The others woke & danced but seem'd to shew little regret for their loss or indeed hardly to miss the basket at all.
9. This morn spent in trading with the Canoes for whatever they would bring resolving to sail as soon as they left off to bring provision which about noon they did & we again Launchd out into the Ocean in search of what chance & Tupia might direct us to