Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/89

 we bore away for the Society Islands. There are eight large and several small islands in this group. They were first discovered by that distinguished circumnavigator, Captain James Cook, in the year 1769. On the 10th of September we came to anchor in Matavai Bay,  off Point Venus, Island of Otaheite. This is one of the mountainous islands. Aorai is about 7,000 feet high, and to the summit of Orohena is 10,000 feet. We ascended these mountains for the purpose of taking  observations. While here we saw many wild hogs, and groves of the banana sometimes called hog banana. This fruit is twice as large as the common banana. It is over a foot long and from two to three inches thick,  of a rich golden hue and a very delicious flavor. For several days our decks were crowded with natives. At last orders were given that none but big chiefs would be  allowed on board. Finally a stop had to be put to their coming on board at all, for every native, no matter  how small, was a big chief. In fact, they were as thick as colonels and majors in the Southern States after the  Rebellion.

The sick of the squadron were taken on shore, and our observatory was put up at Point Venus. This is the place where Captain Cook took the transit of that planet  over one hundred years ago. The natives here seemed to be very happy, gay, and cheerful. They are very honest, but are great beggars. The ladies — may God bless them all, old and young! — are pretty; that is, I mean to say, they have handsome, round, full faces, jet- black hair, dark, round, piercing eyes, and large, white teeth. They are of a light olive complexion. But their